The UK's best seaside walks revealed including a secret celeb-loved island
IF you're looking for the UK's most beautiful beachfront walks, you're in luck.
Conde Nast Traveller has revealed their top coastal strolls across the country.
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One of the best named is Osea Island, a private island in Essex which has been visited by a number of A-Listers.
Rihanna, Stormzy and Daniel Radcliffe have all been spotted there, although the public can stay by booking a night at one of the hotels or cottages.
They said: "In the middle of the Blackwater Estuary, with faint echoes of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, sits 380-acre Osea, reachable only around low tide along an ancient Roman causeway."
The island has been owned by Nigel Frieda for more than 20 years, a music producer behind The Rolling Stones and Sugababes.
Earlier this year, the island went on the market for £25million which includes the entire island as well as all of the hotels on it.
Also dubbed the English Necker Island, it is great for nature lovers due to the abundance of wildlife and fauna.
Prices for the hotels start from £300, or you can splash out £35,000 to rent the whole island.
Osea Island is not the only beautiful walking route that was praised by the experts.
In regard to Lythe, Sandsend, they wrote: "There's something a bit magical about the place.
"In these parts, it's possible to beach hang, fossil hunt, forage, rock pool, and explore more of the North York Moors."
Scotland's West Highland Way: A Global Hiking Gem
Ravenscar in Scarborough made the cut, for it's "huge, breathtaking views" and "prosperous wildlife".
Studland Bay, in Dorset also made the list, with walks alongside the Jurassic Coast cliffs.
They also listed Ynys Gifftan in Wales, praising the "lush uninhabited isle".
You can only visit for a few hours a day, due to the ide, but the walk has views of the huge Snowdonia.
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And in Scotland, St Ninian's Isle was listed for its "fine sand that slowly disappears as the tide rises," along with the "romantic" Erraid, also in Scotland.
Last year, a 2,700-mile walking route was finally complete, making it the longest coastal path in the world.
The King Charles III England Coast Path stretches from the Scottish border to the Cornish coast.
There is even a walk that in the UK that people say looks more like Canada.
Here are some other UK walks that all have a pub along the way.
And we spoke to a man who has walked thousands of miles across the UK - here is his favourite.
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'The Heads of the Valleys road swallowed part of my garden'
John Watkeys used to love an evening cup of tea watching bats fly around his oak tree, but that part of his garden is now gone under one of the UK's most expensive and longest-running road the Heads of the Valleys road officially opens on Thursday, there are no roadworks on it for the first time in 23 years after its £2bn upgrade to almost motorway standard. But for people like John, who has neighboured the A465 for 65 years, he says the stress of fighting to keep his home intact has taken its Minister Eluned Morgan has called the upgrade Wales' biggest project since devolution in 1999, giving valleys communities "the same opportunities" as other areas. The 28-mile (45km) improvement is designed to bring prosperity to one of the UK's most deprived areas and cut journey times between west Wales and the called it the "road from hell" during the roadworks, which started back in 2002, and subsequent congestion, but now all cones have gone and traffic flows while those living closest to the Heads of the Valleys road have welcomed its impact on traffic, they claim they are still fighting with the Welsh government about the new road's impact on their homes. "Nobody is going to be happy with losing part of your garden," said keen gardener John, whose home borders the A465 in Merthyr Tydfil. "I had a beautiful old oak tree, that's gone. I've a soft spot for bats and used to love watch them flying around the oak tree in the evening, they've gone."The road crosses the south Wales coalfields, a national park and twists mightily close to people's homes, especially in Merthyr where the final section of roadworks were grows his own fruit and vegetables but after three years of construction work next to his house he said he has had to "restart the garden from scratch" due to the dirt and dust."I'm left picking up the pieces," said the former microbiologist. "It has been extremely stressful for a lot of years." He said the stress started when after years of reassurances that the new road would not take any of his land, those behind the project changed their mind and wanted to knock down part of his house."Workers said we want to knock down your garage and we need your drive for a working area," claimed John."You can imagine my response, I said you can't knock my garage down as it's an integral part of my house and it includes my utility room which houses my heating and hot water. So they found another way."The Welsh government offered to compulsory purchase the house, in the Cefn Coed area of Merthyr, but John said he declined because of sentimental reasons. "I grew up here, both my parents passed away here and my wife passed away here," John said."This house has a lot of memories and at my age, the thought of packing of everything up and moving was too much."It is not the first time the Heads of the Valley road has impacted John as his family were forced to leave his first home, which was a few metres away, in the early 1960s when the original Swansea to Herefordshire road was who has received interim compensation from the Welsh government for the loss of his garden but is awaiting a full settlement, is adamant "it's not over"."The peace and quiet is nice now and just being able to get on with my life is lovely but I've a few more fights with Welsh government to come," he is not the only one. Just over the road, Daryl Wilkins is also writing to the Welsh government and politicians claiming the vibrations from piling behind his house has led to cracks throughout his home. "I've lived here for almost 45 years and never had any problems until construction started on the Heads of the Valleys," said the 79-year-old former fish and chip van owner."I had a survey on the house before work started and there were no cracks. Now my house has cracks on outside and inside walls and that's because of vibrations from piling going on outside my house."Daryl said contractors replaced nine window panes as a "goodwill gesture" after they were damaged, but claims he had pay more than £1000 on window frames."The piling lasted for at least six months," said Daryl. "The house used to shake, it was terrible."My great-granddaughter loved going on our trampoline but she wouldn't come here because of the noise from the piling."Now I've got damage throughout the house, it will take a thousands of pounds to repair. I don't want compensation, I just want my house repaired."Compensation payments are currently subject to ongoing discussions between the Welsh government, Future Valleys consortium behind the final £1bn stretch of the road, and individuals affected by the scheme. Almost 70 structures - including more than 40 new bridges and a dozen new junctions - have been built across the upgraded route between Abergavenny in Monmouthshire and Hirwaun in Rhondda Cynon planted 285,000 trees to mitigate its significant environmental impact and creatures including bats, dormice and great crested newts have also been moved."They've rightly considered the effects on the environment and local wildlife and spent money putting that right but not done the same with affected people," said Daryl's daughter Julie."They've spent billions on a road which was much-needed, but not put right the damage they've caused this house - and you're talking thousands of pounds."Mum and dad aren't in great health and this stress doesn't help. I just wonder what those dignitaries opening this road would feel if this happened to their parents." Merthyr councillor Lisa Mytton's ward was split in two when a road bridge over the Heads of the Valleys was knocked down for the road below to be said her phone had been "red hot morning, noon and night" for best part of five years."It has been headache the last few years supporting residents with their concerns," said Mytton."Residents found the disruption really heavy at some points when they were drilling into the rock face and some felt movement in their house so they felt weary and scared."It's a huge relief and boost that it's all done but authorities now need to work together to capitalise on this new road." John and Daryl said they accepted the Heads of the Valleys was to be upgraded and both admit the road will have a positive impact on the south Wales valleys, but want those in power to hear their stories."What I'd say to them is what we have to do is to make sure that valleys communities have the same opportunities as other areas to get quality and skilled jobs locally," said First Minister Eluned Morgan."That's what this road does for us. This is the biggest project in the history of devolution and it's going to open up the valleys communities to new jobs."Now Welsh government will help to develop a vision for valleys communities built around economic development and this road is central to that."Transport secretary Ken Skates said he thanked residents "for their patience during the construction period" and that the Welsh government continued to "work with them to resolve any issues".
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
UK agrees to check-free land border for Gibraltar but EU controls for flights
The UK has reached a deal with the EU over Gibraltar's border with Spain that will allow travellers to cross by land without checks. The agreement on a 'fluid border' clears the way to finalise a post-Brexit deal on the territory with the EU. But those flying into Gibraltar from the UK will face one check from Gibraltarian officials and another by the Spanish on behalf of the EU. This is because the land border will allow those arriving by air access to the European Schengen free travel area unchecked once they are in Gibraltar. The UK and Gibraltar insisted the changes would not affect the British overseas territory's sovereignty. The airport will operate under a model similar to London's St Pancras station, where passengers pass through both UK and French passport checks to board international trains. Goods and customs checks will also eventually be removed in both directions under the agreement. The move could also see airlines start to add flights to Gibraltar from countries other than the UK in a boost to tourism. Officials say a hard border would have been introduced under the EU's incoming exit and entry control system if no deal was reached, causing delays for some 15,000 people who cross the border every day as every individual passport was checked. Talks on rules governing the border have been ongoing since Britain left the European Union in 2020. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the previous Tory government left behind a situation that 'put Gibraltar's economy and way of life under threat'. He said the agreement was a 'breakthrough' after years of uncertainty. He said: 'Alongside the government of Gibraltar, we have reached an agreement which protects British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar's economy and allows businesses to plan for the long-term once again. 'I thank the chief minister and his government for their tireless dedication throughout the negotiations. The UK's commitment to Gibraltar remains as solid as The Rock itself.' Spanish foreign minister Jose Albares said the deal marked 'a new beginning' in the relationship between the UK and Spain. He said that Spain 'will guarantee free movement of people and goods', adding that Gibraltar would now be linked to the Schengen Area with Spanish authorities controlling entry and exit. President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the deal. In a post on X, she said: 'It safeguards the integrity of Schengen and the single market, while ensuring stability, legal certainty and prosperity for the region.' Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo said the deal would 'protect future generations of British Gibraltarians and does not in any way affect our British sovereignty'. 'Now is the time to look beyond the arguments of the past and towards a time of renewed co-operation and understanding. Now the deal is done, it's time to finalise the treaty,' he said. On Wednesday evening, Sir Keir Starmer spoke with Mr Picardo and thanked him for 'his years of hard work, commitment, and leadership to reach an agreement'. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also had a phone call with Sir Keir, and congratulated the British PM because 'his Government had succeeded where others had failed'. The Conservatives have said they will carefully review the UK's agreement with the EU on Gibraltar's border to see if it crosses any 'red lines' the party set out during its own negotiations when in government. Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said: 'Gibraltar is British, and given Labour's record of surrendering our territory and paying for the privilege, we will be reviewing carefully all the details of any agreement that is reached.' Mr Lammy held talks with Gibraltar's leaders, members of the opposition and the business community before leaving the British overseas territory to head to Brussels on Wednesday morning. Gibraltar was ceded to the UK by Spain in 1713 and the population is heavily in favour of remaining a British overseas territory. The last time it voted on a proposal to share sovereignty with Spain, in 2002, almost 99% of Gibraltarians rejected the move. Gibraltar also hosts an RAF base at its airport and an important naval facility.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Sunderland Newcastle derby 'can boost football tourism'
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