Latest news with #DanielStart
Times
09-07-2025
- Times
Five of the best walks with a swim in Scotland
Y ou know that feeling. The slog, the sweat, the relentless uphill grind, all to get to that hidden spot. But then you see it: a river pool shimmering like a jewel or a slice of the sea sparkling at the foot of a cliff. The clothes come off, the inhibitions vanish and you plunge in. A shock, a gasp and then pure, unadulterated joy. Here, Daniel Start, the author of Wild Swimming, reveals his five favourite swim-walks. These gorgeous, clear pools are one of the highlights of beautiful Glen Rosa, leading up to Goatfell. They're reached via a pleasant 2.5-hour circular walk from behind the Arran Brewery (there's a car park opposite). Follow the path from here along the edge of the forest. Coming out onto moorland (this can be boggy), you'll find the pools are just above the footbridge. After a swim, turn left back at the footbridge to follow the path (later a more defined track) out of the glen. Details
Times
01-07-2025
- Times
Five of the best family-friendly Scottish beaches
Sun's out, fun's in (we hope). Ditch the screens and grab your buckets and spades as the author of Hidden Beaches, Daniel Start, reveals five of his favourite family-friendly Scottish beaches. Six miles south of Montrose, off the A92, this great sweep of sheltered sandy beach is backed by a ruined castle and harbour, the perfect spot for a dip or an afternoon of gentle sandcastle-building. There's a car park and seasonal café and, for further adventuring, a lime kiln, arch and adjacent coves at ruined Boddin Harbour, two miles north. Do a bit of exploring and you'll also find wonderful caves and rock pools. Also known as Kingsbarns Beach, Cambo Sands is a quiet family beach that stretches for about two miles. Set below Cambo Gardens, a Georgian walled garden with naturalistic coastal planting and areas of woodland (there's also a homely vegetarian café on site), the beach is backed by extensive sand dunes and can be great for rockpooling. From the beachside car park walk a mile north to enjoy the most secluded sands at Airbow Point. • The Bothy at Cambo review — a blissful forest escape The coral beaches of Skye are at its north end, just beyond Dunvegan where the castle displays the Macleod 'faerie flag'. This is no tropical coral, of course, but Scottish coral composed of fragments of billions of bleached skeletons of the red algae that grows at the bottom of the ocean nearby. It's a mile or so's walk to the beach from the car park, but it's worth it to stroll on this spectacular swirl of white sand. Behind the hill at the north end of the beach you'll find beautiful basalt columns forming steps down into the sea. If you want to swim, time your visit for high tide. There are far less well-known beaches on Mull to explore once you've got your bearings, but Calgary Bay makes an excellent jumping-off point on the island for visiting beach-loving families. A long sweep of white sand about five miles west of Dervaig, it's backed by wildflower-rich machair and a woodland sculpture trail (with a tea room) while an ice cream kiosk hewn partly from an old boat opens just above the beach every afternoon in summer 'when sunny'. • I hated camping, but a posh clifftop tent in Fife changed my mind This stunning beach is one of the most popular in the area, but you can easily escape the handful of summer tourists by walking to a 'secret' second cove: bear right from the car park and walk 500m to find this wedge of peely-wally sand. Set between igneous outcrops that form a turquoise swimming pool and suntrap, it's an otherwordly spot with wonderful swimming. The main beach is also great with small children in tow. Pick up some picnic supplies in nearby Lochinver and make a day of it. Taken from Hidden Beaches by Daniel Start (£16.99, Buy from Discount for Times+ members. Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ members
Scottish Sun
18-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
English holiday village with unspoilt beach is home to worlds only ‘cloud bar'
And the other hidden beaches to explore in the UK CLOUD NINE English holiday village with unspoilt beach is home to worlds only 'cloud bar' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TINY holiday village in the UK is home to a unique 'cloud bar' - the only one in the world. Anderby Creek is near Lincolnshire, although remains off the beaten track. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Anderby Creek is a small holiday village near Skegness Credit: Alamy 5 Many have called the beach a "hidden, unspoilt gem" Credit: Alamy 5 It is also home to the world's only "cloud bar" Credit: Alamy It is home to a number of holiday cottages hat overlook the beach. Not only that but there are also a number of campsites and caravan sites to choose from as well. According to the tourism website, the long sandy beach is "quiet, unspoilt and [has] plenty of space". Not only that but it was named one of the best beaches in the UK by The Times. Daniel Start, author of Hidden Beaches Britain also raved about the place in his book, calling it "a perfect hidden beach with endless golden sands backed with dunes and with very few people.' But is also home to the world's only cloud bar. It's not to be confused with an actual bar, as there are no drinks being served there Built in 2009, it it is dedicated to being a good cloud spotting place. Instead there is a raised platform with five convex mirrors you can rotate. A cloud menu also allows you to watch and spot them. Discovering Malta's hidden gem with a quick stop in Gozo 5 The cloud bar is for cloud-spotting Credit: Alamy One tourist said it was "magical" while others said it was a "brilliant idea". Otherwise there is also a cafe, public toilets and car parking open to the public. Or if you want to visit a proper bar, there is Popa's Kitchen serving food and drink. One person wrote: "Anderby Creek is a gem of a village with a spectacular beach but relatively undiscovered so wonderfully peaceful." Another agreed: "Beautiful hidden away secluded beach." Anderby Creek is around 25 minutes from Skegness. Here is another hidden beach, this time in London behind a pub. And we rounded up Kent's best beaches which includes quieter bays to avoid the crowds.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- The Sun
English holiday village with unspoilt beach is home to worlds only ‘cloud bar'
CLOUD NINE And the other hidden beaches to explore in the UK A TINY holiday village in the UK is home to a unique 'cloud bar' - the only one in the world. Anderby Creek is near Lincolnshire, although remains off the beaten track. 5 5 5 It is home to a number of holiday cottages hat overlook the beach. Not only that but there are also a number of campsites and caravan sites to choose from as well. According to the tourism website, the long sandy beach is "quiet, unspoilt and [has] plenty of space". Not only that but it was named one of the best beaches in the UK by The Times. Daniel Start, author of Hidden Beaches Britain also raved about the place in his book, calling it "a perfect hidden beach with endless golden sands backed with dunes and with very few people.' But is also home to the world's only cloud bar. It's not to be confused with an actual bar, as there are no drinks being served there Built in 2009, it it is dedicated to being a good cloud spotting place. Instead there is a raised platform with five convex mirrors you can rotate. A cloud menu also allows you to watch and spot them. Discovering Malta's hidden gem with a quick stop in Gozo 5 One tourist said it was "magical" while others said it was a "brilliant idea". Otherwise there is also a cafe, public toilets and car parking open to the public. Or if you want to visit a proper bar, there is Popa's Kitchen serving food and drink. One person wrote: "Anderby Creek is a gem of a village with a spectacular beach but relatively undiscovered so wonderfully peaceful." Another agreed: "Beautiful hidden away secluded beach." Anderby Creek is around 25 minutes from Skegness. Here is another hidden beach, this time in London behind a pub. And we rounded up Kent's best beaches which includes quieter bays to avoid the crowds.
Daily Mail
07-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Ireland's underrated spots and secret beaches revealed in breathtaking pictures - including the location for Oscar-winning film
Secret coves, mysterious waterfalls and hidden waterfalls are just a few of the incredible treasures that await tourists in the underrated West of Ireland. A new book, Wild Guide: West Ireland, is unveiling the region's best-kept secrets with stunning photos of beauty spots in Donegal, Galway, Mayo and more. Written by Candida Frith-Macdonald with photos by Daniel Start, the book - available to buy now - is set to help tourists escape Dublin and 'experience unspoilt Ireland'. Candida writes: 'The west of Ireland is so packed with dramatic sites and beautiful beaches that it feels as if it's been a classic "riviera" forever, but early visitors wrote more often about the gentler south coast. She adds: 'The Wild Guide is a celebration of wild and storied places - from cliff-top walks to tangled woods, waterfall pools and deserted islands to intriguing ruins. 'It's also a guide to slow food, warm firesides and welcoming places to stay - from seaweed baths and thatched cottages to wild campsites and music-filled pubs. 'If you travel with a spirit of adventure, taking the boreen [road] less travelled and the time to chat with locals, you will have a richer journey wherever you go.' Scroll down to see a selection of some of West Ireland's prettiest hidden gems... The Guinness Tower in Cong Woods was built by the Guinness family in 1864 and is a 'superb stone tower'. Candida says: 'It is usually open, not often visited and can be climbed for great views' Photographed above is the Leannan River, a 'pretty river pool' in County Donegal. 'Downstream you can also gain access to a a very exciting gorge stretch from the track to the old farm buildings', say Candida It might look like it was 'cut by human hand' but the Wormhole in Kilmurvy (pictured above) is actually a collapsed sea cave. Swim shoes are recommended You might recognise Keem Beach from The Banshees of Inisherin and the beautiful spot at the far tip of Achill is one of Ireland's must-sees. Candida says the 'picturesque bay' is 'best visited in the morning' Pictured above is Downpatrick Head, located in Knockaun, County Mayo. The beautiful spot is described as a 'popular and magnificent headland home to puffins, kittiwakes and cormorants' An 'idyllic sheltered sweep of pale sand backed by cobble dunes', the Golden Strand in Dugort is pictured above. Described as a secret beach, Candida says it's possible to wild camp in the flatter parts Kerin's Hole in Whitehead is a 'deep tidal pool in the rocks' with a ladder to get out. It was renovated through the efforts of local swimmers in 2013 The Tyrone House Ruin in East Galway is a 'wonderful Georgian shell' that inspired the novel The Big House of Inver. Candida describes the track as 'abundant with blackberries' when she visited with photographer Daniel Start Church Island (above) is just 100m across, but its home to the remains of a 12th century monastery with an oratory, graveyard and several beehive huts. It's a good spot for wild swimming Pictured above is Tra Leitreach & Church, the 'most popular beach for swimming' on the island of Inis Oirr. It has 'silver sand' and 'great views', says Candida Loch An Mhonain is a 'dramatic lake, sheltered by sheer mountains with a waterfall tumbling down'. The lake is one of the most accessible of the Brandon Lakes Known as Coral Beach, this beach in East Galway is 'deservedly popular'. Candida says: 'The tawny maerl resembles cake sprinkles, the water has a tropical turquoise hue'
