Beautiful UK staycation 'dupe' boasts stunning beach 'just like the Caribbean'
Experiencing the Caribbean doesn't have to be a pipe dream anymore as there's a 'dupe' of the tropical location right here in the UK. With powdery white sand and crystal clear waters you can experience the same at this stunning beach located in Britain - perhaps just without the guaranteed sunshine and warm temperatures.
While you may not associate the UK with the Caribbean, according to walking shoe brand Fitflop, one of the UK's most breathtaking beaches is Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris, Scotland. With a white sandy beach, turquoise sea and a wide sweeping bay, it's located on the wild and west coast of the Isle of Harris.
The Isle of Harris is in the Outer Hebrides, a group of islands northwest of mainland Scotland. Luskentyre is the most famous beach in the Outer Hebrides and one of the best Harris beach. It is often listed as one of the prettiest beaches in Europe in Tripadvisor award rankings.
The stunning picturesque beach offers a surreal contrast between tropical looking scenery and the crisp Hebridean air. Despite 'Caribbean holidays' racking up 27,100 searches a month, beach lovers wanting jaw-dropping beauty without the long-haul flight should pop this Scottish stunner on their bucket list.
Dubbed "one of the most beautiful beaches in the world' by one TripAdvisor user, the beach has gained a stellar 4.9 star rating by visitors. One person said: "Luskentyre Bay is a little slice of Maldives on the coast of the Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides - honestly worth the drive."
While another added: "This beach is Outstanding!!! I've never seen anything quite like it before. The views on the drive up to the car park are other-worldly. Beautiful turquoise water, soft golden sand that stretches for miles, grass covered dunes."
Walking is one of the top things to do in Isle of Harris, especially along the beach and on a sunny day when the tide is out this beach can get a bit busy which is very unusual in the Outer Hebrides. Most of the beaches you will have completely to yourself.
However some visitors advised for swimming, Seilebost and Huisinis on Harris are better - unless you have a wetsuit and are an experienced wild swimmer. This is because the water temperatures rarely get above low teens (Celsius).
Another UK hidden gem is Saltwick Bay. If you're seeking a unique seaside holiday this summer, this underrated beach is definitely worth considering. Located just 1.8 miles (roughly a 10-minute drive) from Whitby, Saltwick Bay attracts significantly fewer visitors throughout the year.
The beach offers the perfect coastal escape for those in search of something a bit different. The Yorkshire beach is truly a marvel, with its golden sands, clear blue waters, and a treasure trove of fossils waiting to be unearthed.
At low tide, you can even spot the shipwrecks of the Admiral Von Tromp and the SS Rohilla hospital ship, as well as the submerged remains of the SS Brentwood, reports the Express.
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Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Storm Floris weather maps track which parts of Wales will be hit hardest
Storm Floris weather maps track which parts of Wales will be hit hardest North Wales is set to be affected by strong winds, with the forecast agency advising people living in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, and Isle of Anglesey to secure their properties, and prepare for power cuts It is unusual to have a storm at this time of year (Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo) Storm Floris is set to batter parts of the UK with winds of up to 85mph. Weather maps show which parts of Wales will be hit hardest amid the unseasonable storm. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind affecting parts of Wales, Scotland and England on Monday and Tuesday. North Wales is set to be affected by strong winds, with the forecast agency advising people living in Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, and Isle of Anglesey to secure their properties, and prepare for power cuts. Storm Floris is forecast to bring unseasonably strong winds to the UK on Monday, the Met Office said. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent. The strongest winds are most likely across Scotland during the afternoon and night, with gusts of up to 85mph possible along exposed coasts and hills. The agency has issued an amber warning for very strong winds in Scotland with Scots being warned to plan ahead, which you can read here. Trains and ferries have already been cancelled in Scotland, with Network Rail set to close a number of routes at 12pm on Monday. All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast. The operator said, with tickets will be valid until Wednesday. Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday as it expects its Scottish-English routes to be "heavily affected" by Storm Floris. On Sunday, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said it had cancelled its Monday show due to the storm. Other shows in Edinburgh are also expected to be axed. Met Office weather maps also show how strong the winds will get at specific times. Here are the weather maps for Wales and where will be hit the hardest by strong winds. Monday, August 4 3am Monday 3am (Image: Met Office) Just ahead of the yellow weather warning for strong winds, which comes in force at 6am, we see that during the early hours of Monday morning, there have been strong winds with a gust maximum of up to 30mph in areas such as Caernarfon in Gwynedd. At the same time, the gust maximum of up to 19mph was predicted for Cardiff. 9am Monday 9am (Image: Met Office) Six hours later and three hours into the weather warning, the maximum gust of wind can reach around 40-50mph, or as high as 54mph in areas such as Holyhead. In the more inland areas such as Wrexham and Monmouth the maximum gust of wind could reach the 30s. 12pm Monday 12pm (Image: Met Office) The north-westerly wind will settle in few coastal areas, around 45mph maximum gust in Aberystwyth, 43mph in Caernarfon and 40mph in Pembroke. 6pm Monday 6pm (Image: Met Office) The wind direction will have changed a little by the evening, coming more from the west. In north Wales, the coastal areas of Caernarfon (31mph) and Holyhead (31mph) could be experiencing less of a wind gust than inland areas such as St Asaph (39mph) and Wrexham (37mph), but only by a small margin. 9pm Monday 9pm (Image: Met Office) By the evening, the gusts of wind will have settled further, with most of Wales experiencing maximum gust of wind of around 20-30mph. 11pm Monday 11pm (Image: Met Office) The weather warning is likely to come to an end at around 11.59pm on Monday evening. Tuesday, August 5 4am Tuesday 4am (Image: Met Office) While there are no weather warnings issued for Wales for Tuesday, it is still set to be a windy day according to the weather maps. The maximum gust of wind could reach around 42mph in Aberystwyth, 41mph in Holyhead and 40mph in Caernarfon. The lowest could be around the low 20s, with a maximum gust of 22mph in areas such as Monmouth. 1pm Tuesday 1pm (Image: Met Office) By the afternoon, there will be a change in the direction, with the wind coming from the south east. It will be as high as 40mph in areas such as Wrexham and Newtown, as well as Hereford across the border. 7pm Tuesday 7pm (Image: Met Office) But the wind may have settled slightly for most of Wales by 7pm. 10pm Tuesday 10pm (Image: Met Office) And later that evening, the wind should have settled even further. Maximum gust of around 15mph in Newtown, 17mph in Wrexham and 18mph in Swansea. Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a meeting had been held on Friday to ensure the country is ready for the storm, adding: "Given the unusual timing, and the fact some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm. "Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country. "This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however the message is the same as winter - plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don't take any unnecessary risks." Article continues below Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: "Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. "There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph."
Powys County Times
4 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Trains cancelled as Storm Floris set to batter Scotland with 85mph winds
Scots are being warned to plan ahead as Storm Floris is set to batter parts of the country with winds of up to 85mph. An amber weather warning is in place for the majority of Scotland between 10am and 10pm on Monday, while a yellow warning for wind is also in place as far south as Manchester and north Wales as well as the entirety of Northern Ireland between 6am and midnight on Monday. The Met Office has warned of travel disruption when the summer storm hits, with the Scottish Transport Secretary saying the unseasonable weather makes raising awareness even more important. Trains and ferries have already been cancelled, with Network Rail set to close a number of routes at 12pm on Monday. All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions. Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee, Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, and Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalshare are among a number of lines that will close from noon. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast. Those intending to travel on Monday can do so on Sunday, the operator said, with tickets also being valid until Wednesday. Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday as it expects its Scottish-English routes to be 'heavily affected' by Storm Floris. The operator said services are likely to be impacted in Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. Tickets dated for Monday for these areas will be accepted on Sunday and Tuesday, it added. The Met Office said gusts could reach 85mph on exposed coasts or hills north of the border. ⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️ #StormFloris to bring unseasonably strong winds across parts of Scotland Monday 1000 – 2200 Latest info 👉 Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ — Met Office (@metoffice) August 3, 2025 Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a meeting had been held on Friday to ensure the country is ready for the storm, adding: 'Given the unusual timing, and the fact some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm. 'Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country. 'This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however the message is the same as winter – plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don't take any unnecessary risks. 'Officials will be monitoring the situation and are ready to stand up the Multi Agency Response Team, if required. 'I am grateful to those who are giving up their weekend and time off to help co-ordinate the transport sector's response. 'Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, Sepa, local authorities and others will communicate any closures to the public and provide real-time updates.' Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings ahead of the storm. 'Disruption to sailings is expected across our network on Monday August 4 due to forecasted strong winds across parts of Scotland's west coast,' it posted on X. ⚠️AMBER WEATHER WARNING⚠️ The @metoffice has issued an AMBER warning for WIND🍃 Monday (04/08) 10:00- Monday (04/08) 23:59 YELLOW warnings are also still in place: Monday (04/08) 06:00- Monday (04/08) 22:00 More information can be found here👉 — Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) August 3, 2025 Elsewhere, motorists have been urged to slow down in poor weather and avoid exposed Highland and coastal routes. Rod Dennis, of the RAC breakdown service, said: 'This unseasonable bout of stormy weather will mean drivers in the north and west of the UK need to take extra care at the start of next week. 'It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured.' Shaun Jones, of the AA, said: 'If you're planning a journey – especially through exposed or rural areas – it's worth checking the latest forecast, allow extra time, and be prepared for the unexpected. 'Keep both hands on the wheel, especially on open roads and motorways, and be mindful of high-sided vehicles and cyclists who may be more affected by gusts. 'Watch out for fallen branches or debris, particularly in rural areas – this could be telltale signs of a fallen tree ahead.' If strong winds are forecast, make sure you keep your home protected. Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything that could be blown into windows and cause danger. Find out more at — Scottish Government (@scotgov) August 2, 2025 Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. 'There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.' The strongest winds will most likely affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night but 'there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris', a spokesperson added. 'Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. 'Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.' The warning zone covers Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Trains cancelled as Storm Floris set to batter Scotland with 85mph winds
An amber weather warning is in place for the majority of Scotland between 10am and 10pm on Monday, while a yellow warning for wind is also in place as far south as Manchester and north Wales as well as the entirety of Northern Ireland between 6am and midnight on Monday. The Met Office has warned of travel disruption when the summer storm hits, with the Scottish Transport Secretary saying the unseasonable weather makes raising awareness even more important. Trains and ferries have already been cancelled, with Network Rail set to close a number of routes at 12pm on Monday. All other routes will see a reduced timetable and longer journey times due to speed restrictions. Edinburgh – Fife/Perth/Dundee, Perth – Dundee/Aberdeen/Inverness, and Inverness – Aberdeen/Wick/Thurso/Kyle of Lochalshare are among a number of lines that will close from noon. Train operator LNER has warned passengers not to travel north of Newcastle on Monday as a result of the forecast. Those intending to travel on Monday can do so on Sunday, the operator said, with tickets also being valid until Wednesday. Avanti West Coast advised passengers not to travel north of Preston on Monday as it expects its Scottish-English routes to be 'heavily affected' by Storm Floris. The operator said services are likely to be impacted in Lancaster, Oxenholme, Penrith, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Haymarket, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh. Tickets dated for Monday for these areas will be accepted on Sunday and Tuesday, it added. The Met Office said gusts could reach 85mph on exposed coasts or hills north of the border. ⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️#StormFloris to bring unseasonably strong winds across parts of Scotland Monday 1000 – 2200 Latest info 👉 Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ — Met Office (@metoffice) August 3, 2025 Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a meeting had been held on Friday to ensure the country is ready for the storm, adding: 'Given the unusual timing, and the fact some people will be on holiday, travelling or perhaps unaware, we are trying to raise even more awareness than usual of this potentially disruptive storm. 'Please check with operators as we do expect rail, ferries, roads and bridges to be disrupted on Monday across the country. 'This is a slightly unusual situation for August, however the message is the same as winter – plan ahead, check your journey in advance, allow extra time, and don't take any unnecessary risks. 'Officials will be monitoring the situation and are ready to stand up the Multi Agency Response Team, if required. 'I am grateful to those who are giving up their weekend and time off to help co-ordinate the transport sector's response. 'Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, Sepa, local authorities and others will communicate any closures to the public and provide real-time updates.' Scottish ferry operator CalMac has issued a series of cancellation warnings ahead of the storm. 'Disruption to sailings is expected across our network on Monday August 4 due to forecasted strong winds across parts of Scotland's west coast,' it posted on X. ⚠️AMBER WEATHER WARNING⚠️ The @metoffice has issued an AMBER warning for WIND🍃 Monday (04/08) 10:00- Monday (04/08) 23:59 YELLOW warnings are also still in place: Monday (04/08) 06:00- Monday (04/08) 22:00 More information can be found here👉 — Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) August 3, 2025 Elsewhere, motorists have been urged to slow down in poor weather and avoid exposed Highland and coastal routes. Rod Dennis, of the RAC breakdown service, said: 'This unseasonable bout of stormy weather will mean drivers in the north and west of the UK need to take extra care at the start of next week. 'It's the height of the holiday season, so those towing trailers and caravans, as well as those with roof and tent boxes, must ensure their loads are properly secured.' Shaun Jones, of the AA, said: 'If you're planning a journey – especially through exposed or rural areas – it's worth checking the latest forecast, allow extra time, and be prepared for the unexpected. 'Keep both hands on the wheel, especially on open roads and motorways, and be mindful of high-sided vehicles and cyclists who may be more affected by gusts. 'Watch out for fallen branches or debris, particularly in rural areas – this could be telltale signs of a fallen tree ahead.' If strong winds are forecast, make sure you keep your home protected. Secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture or anything that could be blown into windows and cause danger. Find out more at — Scottish Government (@scotgov) August 2, 2025 Met Office chief meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: 'Across the warning area, many inland areas are likely to see gusts of 40-50mph, with 60-70mph more likely at higher elevations and around exposed coasts in Scotland. 'There is a small chance that some locations here could even record gusts of 85mph.' The strongest winds will most likely affect Scotland on Monday afternoon and night but 'there remains some uncertainty in the depth and track of Floris', a spokesperson added. 'Winds will first ease in the west during later Monday but remaining very strong overnight until early Tuesday in the east. 'Heavy rain may also contribute to the disruption in places.' The warning zone covers Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland, north Wales and the north of England. Storm Floris is the sixth named storm of the 2024-25 naming season, which runs from early September to late August, and January's Storm Eowyn was the most recent.
