Latest news with #EmilyLuxton
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Ditch Cornwall for my perfect seaside county this summer – we have better beaches, pubs and incredible seaside campsites
Check out the secret bays, abandoned villages and dramatic cliffs around Cornwall that appeared in an ITV drama BEACH IT Ditch Cornwall for my perfect seaside county this summer – we have better beaches, pubs and incredible seaside campsites I'VE lived in Dorset all my life, and these are the hidden gems that a lot of tourists don't know about. Dorset's most famous spots, like Durdle Door and the beaches at Bournemouth and Sandbanks, can get very busy during the summer months. Advertisement 11 Emily has lived in Dorset all her life - here are her hidden gems Credit: Emily Luxton 11 Ditch Durdle Door for some more popular spots Credit: Alamy Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here But there are plenty of spots where you can escape the crowds - and even places where you can have a beach all to yourself. I'm a local expert from the blog Dorset Travel Guide, and this is my pick of the top hidden gems in the county. Kimmeridge Bay Durdle Door gets all the glory (and all the crowds), but there are plenty of other impressive spots on Dorset's Jurassic Coast. Advertisement Kimmeridge Bay has all the best bits from fossils, to rock pools, clifftop coastal walks, and sheltered water for a wild swim. There's even a waterfall right on the beach, though it's usually only a trickle in summer. Tyneham Tyneham is Dorset's "lost village", abandoned during WWII when the MOD took over the area for training. They still own the land, so the ruined village is only open on select weekends and public holidays - always check the firing times first. Advertisement It's free to visit (except a suggested £4 donation for the car park), and both the church and schoolhouse have been restored to give a glimpse of what life in rural 1940s England was like. There's also a lovely (and mostly flat) 1-mile walk down to one of my favourite secret beaches, Worbarrow Bay. The Dorset Hamlet of Seatown is Overlooked by Brits 11 Emily loves Kimmeridge Bay for a wild swim Credit: Alamy 11 The village of Tyneham in Dorset was abandoned during WWII Credit: Alamy Advertisement Studland Bay Beaches & Nature Reserve Sandbanks is one of Dorset's most popular beaches, but just a short hop across Poole Harbour, you can enjoy the same pristine white sands without the crowds. Take the car ferry from Sandbanks to Studland for miles of soft sandy beaches and grassy dunes. Behind the bay is a lowland heath Nature Reserve, managed by the National Trust and home to another of my favourite hidden gems: the mysterious Agglestone Rock (said to have been thrown there by the devil). Swanage Railway Board a vintage steam train at Norden Station for a short-but-sweet ride through the Purbeck hills to reach the seaside at Swanage. Advertisement The restored branch line runs right past the hilltop ruins of Corfe Castle - you can even break your journey here to explore the castle and village. My top tip is to pay extra for the 'Devon Belle' Pullman observation car, which has huge wraparound windows for the best views. Charmouth Beach Dorset's Jurassic Coast is famous for fossils, and my favourite place to go looking for them is West Beach in Charmouth. I always spot a few when I visit, mostly ammonites. Plus, the lovely shingle beaches at Charmouth are usually much less busy than at more popular Lyme Regis down the road. Advertisement 11 Check out the stone models at Sculpture by the Lakes Credit: Alamy Sculpture by the Lakes Wander through 26 acres of peaceful countryside in search of unique contemporary sculptures. This is the perfect tranquil escape as visitor numbers are limited to maintain the peace and quiet, and no under-14s are allowed. Parkdean's Warmwell Holiday Park is just down the road, surrounded by woodlands and a great place to enjoy the serenity of Dorset's countryside. Advertisement Abbotsbury Swannery Tucked away on the Fleet Lagoon near Weymouth, Abbotsbury Swannery is a small nature reserve home to a huge colony of over 600 mute swans. The absolute best time to visit is in May and June, when the nests are filled with newly hatched baby cygnet - if you're lucky, you might even see one hatching. It's just down the road from the family-friendly West Fleet Holiday Farm campsite, which has hard-to-beat views of the Fleet Lagoon. 11 The gardens are completely free to enter Credit: Alamy Advertisement Kingston Maurwood Animal Park & Gardens This historic country manor near Dorchester is now a college, but it's also one of Dorset's best free days out. There are 35 acres of formal gardens to explore, and a small (but excellent) animal park where you can get up close with goats, donkeys, rabbits, pigs, and more. It's completely free to enter, and there are also indoor and outdoor play areas. Don't miss the brilliant onsite farm shop, which is packed with local produce, crafts, and gifts. Advertisement Dorchester makes a great base for exploring the area on a budget: there's a Premier Inn right next to the train station, and prices are usually much lower than seaside spots like Weymouth. Winspit Quarry & Dancing Ledge Winspit is a defunct quarry above a rocky cove on a particularly rugged stretch of coastline. The chalk cliffs are littered with building remains and echoing caves (which some visitors explore - at their own risk). Park at Worth Matravers car park and walk down to the coast. Advertisement I love combining Winspit with a walk east along the cliffs to Dancing Ledge, a man-made tidal swimming pool blasted into the cliffs by quarrymen. 11 Church Ope Cove is one of Dorset's secret beaches Credit: Alamy Church Ope Cove & Pirate Graveyard Wild and rocky Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland is one of Dorset's best secret beaches. There's a tiny, free carpark in Wakeham, opposite Pennsylvania Castle. Advertisement From there, it's a tricky climb down to the beach via a steep cliffside staircase. On your way down, explore the ruins of St Andrews Church and the so-called Pirates' Graveyard: look out for skull-and-crossbones on some of the graves. There aren't really any pirates buried here, but according to local legend, the church and cove were once used by smugglers. Cerne Abbas Giant It's hard to hold back a smirk when you see the Cerne Abbas Giant, a huge chalk figure of a nude man wielding a club and standing proudly to attention on the hillside. Advertisement You can walk right past him on Giant Hill, but the best views are from a layby on Acreman Street. Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms A magically colour-changing lake hidden in a Dorset woodland? It's not a children's story: the Blue Pool is a flooded former quarry where the clay in the water makes the colour look different depending on the light. Sometimes it's unnaturally blue, sometimes very green or turquoise. Advertisement Address: Blue Pool, Furzebrook Rd, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5AR 11 The cliffs appeared in the ITV drama, Broadchurch Credit: Alamy West Bay West Bay is one of my favourite days out in Dorset: towering golden cliffs, a fantastic shingle beach that's rarely (if ever) crowded, and a lively working harbour. Fans of ITV's Broadchurch may recognise the iconic cliffs, this tiny fishing village was the show's main filming location. Advertisement Nearby Freshwater Bay Holiday Park is a great base for exploring West Dorset - and has its own private beach. They also allow day visitors outside of school holidays: I love taking my nieces and nephews to use the indoor pool and bowling alley. 11 Brownsea Island is a National Trust nature reserve Credit: Alamy Brownsea Island Hop on a ferry from Poole Quay to reach Brownsea Island, a National Trust nature reserve and one of the only places in the UK where you can still see red squirrels. Advertisement You can walk around the whole island in a matter of hours, so it's ideal for a day trip to get away from it all. If you feel like being extra adventurous, you can kayak or paddleboard to the island. Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve Tout Quarry feels like it should be much better-known than it is, but I've often had the place completely to myself! It's an abandoned quarry that was turned into a sculpture park, where you can wander amongst the rocks and wildflowers in search of stone sculptures - including a piece by Anthony Gormley. Advertisement Summer is my favourite time to visit, when the wildflowers and butterflies are out in full force. 11 Dorset Adventure Park has a huge on the water inflatable Credit: Dorset Adventure Park Dorset Adventure Park I love a good challenge, and the Dorset Adventure Park is perfect for thrill seekers. You can get wet and wild on the inflatable, floating obstacle course in the water park, or get dirty on the 2km Mud Trail assault course. Advertisement I recommend bringing something to sit on for the car ride home! Address: Arfleet Mill Lakes, Studland Road, Corfe Castle BH20 5JG
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Ditch Cornwall for my perfect seaside county this summer – we have better beaches, bays and incredible seaside campsites
Check out the secret bays, abandoned villages and dramatic cliffs around Cornwall that appeared in an ITV drama BEACH IT Ditch Cornwall for my perfect seaside county this summer – we have better beaches, bays and incredible seaside campsites Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I'VE lived in Dorset all my life, and these are the hidden gems that a lot of tourists don't know about. Dorset's most famous spots, like Durdle Door and the beaches at Bournemouth and Sandbanks, can get very busy during the summer months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 Emily has lived in Dorset all her life - here are her hidden gems Credit: Emily Luxton 11 Ditch Durdle Door for some more popular spots Credit: Alamy Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here But there are plenty of spots where you can escape the crowds - and even places where you can have a beach all to yourself. I'm a local expert from the blog Dorset Travel Guide, and this is my pick of the top hidden gems in the county. Kimmeridge Bay Durdle Door gets all the glory (and all the crowds), but there are plenty of other impressive spots on Dorset's Jurassic Coast. Kimmeridge Bay has all the best bits from fossils, to rock pools, clifftop coastal walks, and sheltered water for a wild swim. There's even a waterfall right on the beach, though it's usually only a trickle in summer. Tyneham Tyneham is Dorset's "lost village", abandoned during WWII when the MOD took over the area for training. They still own the land, so the ruined village is only open on select weekends and public holidays - always check the firing times first. It's free to visit (except a suggested £4 donation for the car park), and both the church and schoolhouse have been restored to give a glimpse of what life in rural 1940s England was like. There's also a lovely (and mostly flat) 1-mile walk down to one of my favourite secret beaches, Worbarrow Bay. The Dorset Hamlet of Seatown is Overlooked by Brits 11 Emily loves Kimmeridge Bay for a wild swim Credit: Alamy 11 The village of Tyneham in Dorset was abandoned during WWII Credit: Alamy Studland Bay Beaches & Nature Reserve Sandbanks is one of Dorset's most popular beaches, but just a short hop across Poole Harbour, you can enjoy the same pristine white sands without the crowds. Take the car ferry from Sandbanks to Studland for miles of soft sandy beaches and grassy dunes. Behind the bay is a lowland heath Nature Reserve, managed by the National Trust and home to another of my favourite hidden gems: the mysterious Agglestone Rock (said to have been thrown there by the devil). Swanage Railway Board a vintage steam train at Norden Station for a short-but-sweet ride through the Purbeck hills to reach the seaside at Swanage. The restored branch line runs right past the hilltop ruins of Corfe Castle - you can even break your journey here to explore the castle and village. My top tip is to pay extra for the 'Devon Belle' Pullman observation car, which has huge wraparound windows for the best views. Charmouth Beach Dorset's Jurassic Coast is famous for fossils, and my favourite place to go looking for them is West Beach in Charmouth. I always spot a few when I visit, mostly ammonites. Plus, the lovely shingle beaches at Charmouth are usually much less busy than at more popular Lyme Regis down the road. 11 Check out the stone models at Sculpture by the Lakes Credit: Alamy Sculpture by the Lakes Wander through 26 acres of peaceful countryside in search of unique contemporary sculptures. This is the perfect tranquil escape as visitor numbers are limited to maintain the peace and quiet, and no under-14s are allowed. Parkdean's Warmwell Holiday Park is just down the road, surrounded by woodlands and a great place to enjoy the serenity of Dorset's countryside. Abbotsbury Swannery Tucked away on the Fleet Lagoon near Weymouth, Abbotsbury Swannery is a small nature reserve home to a huge colony of over 600 mute swans. The absolute best time to visit is in May and June, when the nests are filled with newly hatched baby cygnet - if you're lucky, you might even see one hatching. It's just down the road from the family-friendly West Fleet Holiday Farm campsite, which has hard-to-beat views of the Fleet Lagoon. 11 The gardens are completely free to enter Credit: Alamy Kingston Maurwood Animal Park & Gardens This historic country manor near Dorchester is now a college, but it's also one of Dorset's best free days out. There are 35 acres of formal gardens to explore, and a small (but excellent) animal park where you can get up close with goats, donkeys, rabbits, pigs, and more. It's completely free to enter, and there are also indoor and outdoor play areas. Don't miss the brilliant onsite farm shop, which is packed with local produce, crafts, and gifts. Dorchester makes a great base for exploring the area on a budget: there's a Premier Inn right next to the train station, and prices are usually much lower than seaside spots like Weymouth. Winspit Quarry & Dancing Ledge Winspit is a defunct quarry above a rocky cove on a particularly rugged stretch of coastline. The chalk cliffs are littered with building remains and echoing caves (which some visitors explore - at their own risk). Park at Worth Matravers car park and walk down to the coast. I love combining Winspit with a walk east along the cliffs to Dancing Ledge, a man-made tidal swimming pool blasted into the cliffs by quarrymen. 11 Church Ope Cove is one of Dorset's secret beaches Credit: Alamy Church Ope Cove & Pirate Graveyard Wild and rocky Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland is one of Dorset's best secret beaches. There's a tiny, free carpark in Wakeham, opposite Pennsylvania Castle. From there, it's a tricky climb down to the beach via a steep cliffside staircase. On your way down, explore the ruins of St Andrews Church and the so-called Pirates' Graveyard: look out for skull-and-crossbones on some of the graves. There aren't really any pirates buried here, but according to local legend, the church and cove were once used by smugglers. Cerne Abbas Giant It's hard to hold back a smirk when you see the Cerne Abbas Giant, a huge chalk figure of a nude man wielding a club and standing proudly to attention on the hillside. You can walk right past him on Giant Hill, but the best views are from a layby on Acreman Street. Blue Pool Nature Reserve & Tearooms A magically colour-changing lake hidden in a Dorset woodland? It's not a children's story: the Blue Pool is a flooded former quarry where the clay in the water makes the colour look different depending on the light. Sometimes it's unnaturally blue, sometimes very green or turquoise. 11 The cliffs appeared in the ITV drama, Broadchurch Credit: Alamy West Bay West Bay is one of my favourite days out in Dorset: towering golden cliffs, a fantastic shingle beach that's rarely (if ever) crowded, and a lively working harbour. Fans of ITV's Broadchurch may recognise the iconic cliffs, this tiny fishing village was the show's main filming location. Nearby Freshwater Bay Holiday Park is a great base for exploring West Dorset - and has its own private beach. They also allow day visitors outside of school holidays: I love taking my nieces and nephews to use the indoor pool and bowling alley. 11 Brownsea Island is a National Trust nature reserve Credit: Alamy Brownsea Island Hop on a ferry from Poole Quay to reach Brownsea Island, a National Trust nature reserve and one of the only places in the UK where you can still see red squirrels. You can walk around the whole island in a matter of hours, so it's ideal for a day trip to get away from it all. If you feel like being extra adventurous, you can kayak or paddleboard to the island. Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve Tout Quarry feels like it should be much better-known than it is, but I've often had the place completely to myself! It's an abandoned quarry that was turned into a sculpture park, where you can wander amongst the rocks and wildflowers in search of stone sculptures - including a piece by Anthony Gormley. Summer is my favourite time to visit, when the wildflowers and butterflies are out in full force. 11 Dorset Adventure Park has a huge on the water inflatable Credit: Dorset Adventure Park Dorset Adventure Park I love a good challenge, and the Dorset Adventure Park is perfect for thrill seekers. You can get wet and wild on the inflatable, floating obstacle course in the water park, or get dirty on the 2km Mud Trail assault course. I recommend bringing something to sit on for the car ride home!
The Sun
10-08-2025
- The Sun
I'm a travel blogger – these are the best websites, vouchers and discount cards to save hundreds on a holiday in the UK
AFTER working as a travel blogger for over a decade, I've picked up a lot of great hacks for saving money. My site is all about helping other travellers. I love a bargain and I never book anything without making sure I've found the best price possible. 9 9 The UK is one of my favourite destinations to explore, but let's face it, it isn't always the most budget-friendly. Thankfully, there are dozens of easy ways to save cash - in some cases, hundreds of pounds - off UK holidays. From money off hotels and transport, to deals for on-the-ground travel costs like attractions and meals, these are the best websites, vouchers, and discount cards you need to know about: Always check hotel comparison sites Before you book your hotel anywhere, check a price comparison website to see if you can get it cheaper elsewhere. According to TripAdvisor, doing so could save you up to 30%. The ones I use the most are KAYAK, Trivago, and TripAdviso r - and it's usually worth checking all three, as often one may have access to a deal or booking platform that the others don't. When I booked a guest house in Hastings recently, the price was 13% cheaper booking through Agoda - a rate I only found by comparing prices on TripAdvisor. Get a railcard With train tickets in the UK sometimes costing more than a flight to Spain, it pays to save money any way you can. Save a third on train fares by purchasing a railcard from National Rail. Most railcards cost £35 a year (except the Disabled Persons Railcard, which is £20). Cheapest family holiday destinations for summer 2025 revealed The best value is the Family & Friends Railcard, which can be used by two named adults and saves you a third on up to four adult fares, and 60% on up to four children's tickets. Often, you only need to use the railcard once for it to pay for itself. Last week, I took the train from Dorchester to London with a friend, and it actually worked out £16 cheaper overall when we bought a Two Together Railcard. Plus, if you have a Tesco Clubcard, you can also use your points to purchase a railcard. Book clever with Split My Fare You can save even more on train tickets by 'split ticketing' using a site like Split My Fare. Split ticketing means buying separate train tickets for different sections of the same journey, which can work out a whopping 90% cheaper. It's so easy. You don't have to switch trains; you will just have two or more tickets for different parts of the journey. On longer trips, the savings can be significant. Using Split My Fare and a Two Together Railcard, my recent trip to London cost £90.50 for two returns - instead of £152.60! Check out secret hotel rooms is already known for its last-minute holiday and hotel bargains, but did you know it also sells ' secret hotel ' rooms at a much lower price than the advertised room rate? It's a way for hotels to quietly sell off their unbooked rooms on the cheap. You'll be told the rough location and the star rating, but you won't find out the name of the hotel until you've booked. It's a bit of a gamble, but it could lead to big savings - and you can sometimes guess the hotel before booking, by running the description and location details through a search engine. Right now on you can book a 'Unique & Trendy Hotel near Shoreditch ' at £102 for one night in August. I can't say for certain what hotel this is, but some online detective work suggests it's one that's being sold for £135 on other sites for the same dates. See if you qualify for Before I buy anything, I always do a quick search on to see if there's an active promotion or voucher code I can use. You can either browse the Travel category, or search for the specific brand you're booking. Right now on there's a 9% discount code for and 5% for Travelodge (both worked when I tested them). Get money back from Quidco Once you've found the best price for your trip, don't forget to check Quidco to see if there are any cashback offers. There are hundreds of travel brands on Quidco, including Expedia, Travelodge, trainline, Radisson Hotels, Parkdean resorts, and loads more. All you need to do is use Quidco's link to visit the site before booking, and you'll get a small percentage of the purchase price as cashback. Look out for flash sales: earlier this month a 24-hour flash sale upped the Expedia and cashback rates to 9%. Take a look on If you fancy a spot of camping, glamping, or caravanning this summer, check to find your perfect site. Not only do the customisable search and customer reviews make it easy to find the right site for your needs, but prices are often much lower. For example, a non-electric camping pitch at Tehidy Holiday Park in Cornwall is £183 for 7 nights in August on but the same pitch would be £238 when booked direct. 9 9 Check into a Hoseasons There are over 750 holiday parks listed on Hoseasons, and often the prices are lower than if you book direct. For example, seven nights in a three-bedroom lodge at King's Lynn Holiday Park in Norfolk is £1,105 on Hoseasons vs £1,225 when booked direct (Based on booking seven nights from 21/8/25). The prices aren't always cheaper on Hoseasons, though, so make sure you also check the holiday park's website before booking to compare. Tap your Tesco Clubcard If you collect Tesco Clubcard points, you can turn them into vouchers to pay for a huge number of travel costs. The points are often worth double when you convert them, so the savings can be big. Get 2X value at hotel brands including and Best Western, holiday brands like Butlins and Hoseasons, and travel brands including National Express, Railcard, and P&O Ferries. You can also get 2X value on days out like theme parks, castles, and zoos, to help keep those holiday spending costs down. Dine using a tastecard Dining out when you travel can get very expensive. One way to keep costs down is with a tastecard membership, which can get you 2-for-1 meals or 25% off the total bill at thousands of restaurants. Membership is usually £79.99 per year, but you can get your first year for £29.99. If you use it to dine out every night of a three-night trip, the savings will be well worth that upfront fee! A tastecard can also get you discounts on cinema tickets and days out at popular attractions, including up to 45% off at Thorpe Park and up to 20% off at SEA LIFE London. Too Good to Go If you're self-catering on your UK holiday, I have a great hack that could save you a lot of money on meals and snacks. Download the Too Good to Go app to find local shops, cafes and restaurants selling off their surplus food at incredibly low prices. The idea is to help fight food waste - but it's also a brilliant way to save money on takeaways. Things are often bundled into a 'surprise bag', where you'll get a bundle of goodies worth around £10-15 for less than £5. My best result was a £3.50 surprise bag from Costa which contained three Moroccan flatbread sandwiches, one lemon tart, two tiramisu cakes, one cheese twist, and two croissants. National Rail Days Out Travelling by train can get you access to some great savings thanks to National Rail Days Out. They have 2-for-1 entry at top attractions like London Zoo, Caernarfon Castle, or the Bluebell Railway in West Sussex. There are also huge discounts, including a third off at theme parks like Thorpe Park, LEGOLAND and Alton Towers. Search for your chosen destination to see what deals are on offer before your trip, then just download the vouchers. Remember: the deals are only valid if you travel by train, and you'll need to show your train tickets alongside your voucher for entry. 9 Go old-school with a Heritage Membership Another way to potentially keep travel costs down is with a National Trust or English Heritage membership, both of which get you free admission and free parking at hundreds of attractions. Take a look at the attractions in your holiday destination, to see if a membership could be worth it. National Trust membership for a family of 4 is £168.60. Family admission at many National Trust sites is over £40, so if you plan on visiting 4-5 sites over the course of a year, a membership will probably save you money. English Heritage membership for a family with two adults and up to 12 children is £144 for a year - but there is 25% off if you buy before the end of August, so it's only £108. Prices at the more famous attractions like Dover Castle and Stonehenge can range from £50 to over £80 for a family ticket (depending on the day and ticket type). So, again, if you visit four or five attractions in a year, the membership will most likely have saved you money. Say ahoy with HolidayPirates If you can be flexible with where and when you travel, you can find some great bargains on HolidayPirates. It's a deals platform where a team of experts pull in amazing travel deals from around the web. They find some of the best offers out there for everything from last- minute package holidays to half-price hotel breaks. Right now, UK offers include Butlins packages at £252 for a family of four, a four-star spa hotel in Liverpool at £99 per night, and a long weekend glamping in Bude at £219 for a family of four. It's less helpful if you're searching for a specific date and destination, but great if you're open to ideas. Filter by destination and month to find the best deals for when you want to travel. You can also sign up to their newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox - or even subscribe to their WhatsApp channel and get notified every time a new deal hits. For something special, try Luxury Escapes If you're looking to splurge on a lavish hotel for an extra special occasion, take a look at the deals on Luxury Escapes. This site has savings of up to 70% off on high-end hotels, often with some luxe extras like free meals, room upgrades, or spa credits. The savings on pricier hotels can literally be hundreds of pounds: a night at very fancy The Kensington in London is £235 in mid-August, with breakfast and a free nightly cocktail, vs over £390 (minus the cocktails) when booked direct. Pay attention, because the price shown is sometimes the members-only price, and the non-member price may be slightly higher. Membership costs £129/year plus a one-time sign-up fee of £250, so it's not really worth it unless you book a lot of hotels. Sign up for OneKey and other loyalty programmes Sign up for the free memberships and rewards programmes at hotel booking sites like Accor, IHG®, and Expedia Group to get instant access to members-only prices and other loyalty rewards. Expedia, and VRBO have a shared reward programme called OneKey, with member discounts of 10% or more on 'over 100,000 hotels worldwide'. You also earn OneKeyCash on eligible stays, a reward currency to spend on future bookings. The more trips you book, the more the rewards increase: Silver members get 15% or more discount, while Gold and Platinum members get 20% or more. I once snagged a £60 pub stay in mid Wales for just £36.19 with my Gold member discount! 9 9 Take advantage of Groupon Groupon UK has a huge range of deals on services and experiences, with some great offers in the travel category, including holidays, hotels, spa days, attraction tickets, and more. You can filter by destination and by travel type, including family travel, so it's easy to find the best bargains. August deals include a seven-night stay in a two-bedroom holiday home for six at Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Devon for £137 per person (the same week is £207 per person when booking direct). There was also a double room for two with a full English and a bottle of Prosecco at Leonardo Hotel Liverpool for just £79. Equivalent room when booked direct was £93.60, not including the Prosecco. Take a look at Wowcher Wowcher is another deals website. It's a little trickier to use for travel searching, as there's no way to filter by location or travel type. But if you have the time and patience, there are some amazing deals for holidays, spa breaks, and attraction tickets. We got family tickets for Africa Alive Zoo in Norfolk at £36 for two adults and up to three kids (saving just over 51% against the website price). They also helpfully flag up which deals have Summer Holiday availability. Be wary of hotel deals where you can't check availability and book then and there; with these, you'll get a voucher to redeem at the hotel 'depending on availability'. The discounts for these deals are staggering, but it's a risk, as there may not be any availability when when you want to book.
The Irish Sun
01-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Ten affordable UK beaches that are exotic dupes of Thailand and Australia – with 3-night stays from £36pp
WHITE sandy beaches, turquoise waters and palm trees gently swaying in the breeze - sounds exotic right? Except you don't have to hop on a plane to get there. The UK has more than 7,700 miles of coastline and around 1,500 Advertisement 21 The UK has plenty of stunning beaches, like Barafundle Bay Beach in Pembrokeshire - that match exotic coastlines across the world Credit: Alamy 21 Barafundle, above, is a dead ringer for the Caribbean island of Anguilla, pictured - a beauty spot loved by honeymooners that's a nine-hour flight away Credit: Alamy So it's no surprise that some of With some Plus, without the pricey air fare and school holiday scrum, you'll end up sunning yourself for a Advertisement From Australian coastlines to hidden Portuguese beaches, here are some of the best destination 'dupes' you can visit in the UK instead: 21 Barafundle Bay in Wales or the Caribbean? Visit Wales says: "With swathes of golden sand and crystal clear waters, Barafundle has been voted many times as one of the best beaches in Britain, and the world - it's often likened to a Being off the beaten track means you won't see Advertisement But it also means you won't have any facilities like cafes or toilets, so make sure to bring everything with you. Everything you take has to be carried back up over the cliff. However, there is a cafe and toilets at Where to stay: Book a quirky Yurt at Durdle Door, Dorset or Algarve, Portugal? 21 The rock cliff arch near Marinha beach in Portugal is a busy spot on the sunny Algarve Credit: Alamy 21 Our very own Durdle Door in Dorset is almost identical and the beach is beautiful too. However, both beaches are very popular in the summer. Credit: Alamy Advertisement The famous Durdle Door has also been compared to beaches abroad, but the Found in the Algarve is Marina Beach, which has an almost identical natural rock arch formation in the sea, just like the beauty spot in Dorset. Just be ready for a walk - with 143 stone steps down to the sand - and it Europe's best beaches according to Tripadvisor Locals from the area love this spot in the low season when it isn't overrun with tourists. Emily Luxton, who runs the local website Advertisement Where to stay: The family-run Scarborough or Australia? 21 Bathing boxes - what the Australians call beach huts - along Brighton beach in Victoria Credit: Alamy 21 The colourful beach huts at North Sands beach in Scarborough have been recently renovated and can be rented out by the public Credit: Alamy Not many people would expect However, the multicoloured beach huts of the English seaside resort look just like somewhere Advertisement Yet Brighton Beach in Australia looks just like North Beach in Scarborough, thanks to its long line of Budget-friendly Scarborough has long been a The beach huts here have recently been lovingly restored to their former glory, and you can rent them for £50 for the whole day. A lot cheaper than a flight ticket south of the equator! Of course, don't expect the same Aussie weather in Scarborough, so remember to pack a jacket. The Advertisement Achmelvich Bay in Scotland or the Bahamas? 21 Half Moon Cay island in the Bahamas is picture-perfect but it's a fair way to travel. Credit: Alamy 21 Achmelvich bay in Scotland is an almost-secret paradise right here in the UK Credit: Alamy Photographer Quintin Lake compared the beach to the He told Sun Travel: " "The sea looks turquoise, which you'll see in the book. Advertisement "The "When I went, it was The beach was even listed in the annual Stay virtually on the beach, with Prices can soar in the summer, but there is also a Advertisement Scotland or Thailand? 21 People can't believe this stunning white beach is in Scotland, found on the Isle of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Credit: Alamy 21 Berneray's beaches are just as picture-perfect as Koh Chang Island in Thailand Credit: Alamy You'd be forgiven for thinking And it's not just you - in 2009, a Both beaches have beautiful white sands, with the Scottish beach getting its white hue from shingle made from broken shells. Advertisement It was even named one of the One tourist wrote online: "This place is truly Heaven on Earth. I spent two hours on this beach and despite it's incredible beauty, I never saw another soul. " The This remote spot in the Outer Hebrides doesn't have too many accommodation options nearby, but nab one of these Pedn Vounder in Cornwall or Bali? 21 Pedn Vounder Beach in Cornwall looks like a tropical paradise and it's never busy due to the hike down from the cliff. Credit: Alamy Advertisement 21 Bali is a stunning destination, but Indonesia is no quick flight so it's good to know there is a near-identical bay in Cornwall Credit: Alamy The You might not expect This sunny stretch has even been named one of the world's best beaches, according to the Part of the reason this beach is unspoilt and less crowded is that it's not the easiest to get to with a steep climb down from the car park. Advertisement But, once you've staked your place in the sand, you can stay all day and bask in the Bali-esk breeze - just pack your own cocktail in a can. A great option for families to stay close to the shores of Pedn Vounder is the Rhossili Bay, Wales or Skiathos Island, Greece? 21 Rhossili Bay in Wales is equally as beautiful as the beaches in Crete Credit: Alamy 21 The exotic Koukounaries bay on Skiathos island is one of Greece's best beaches, but it gets very busy with day trippers Credit: Alamy Another sweet spot in Wales is the serene Advertisement Often cited in round-ups of the best beaches in the UK, Rhossili Bay was also celebrated in the Happy Place campaign this year, launched by A warm stroll on this coast in the sunshine could have you mistaking this spot for the exotic Generally thought to be one of the most Go now before too many people find out about it. People are so stunned by the beautiful Welsh beach, the council's Visit Advertisement Its Facebook page has reached more than 6.4 million people this year, with the number of likes, shares, comments and link clicks up over 114% compared to 2022. Take the family glamping just 25 minutes from Rhossili Bay at Eastbourne or Big Sur, California? 21 The Seven Sisters cliffs is one of the UK's most dramatic coastlines Credit: Alamy 21 California's Big Sur is a stunning vista from the famous Highway 1 that leads from LA to San Francisco Credit: Alamy Big Sur is one of the most dramatic coastlines in the USA, with sweeping views, towering cliffs and a Advertisement While Big Sur stretches over 70 miles along the west coast of California, we have our own cinematic landscape here in the form of Seven Sisters Country Park and the South Downs National Park, known for their stunning coastal scenery and hiking trails. Just outside Famous for its towering white chalk cliffs, the notorious Beachy Head is the highest in Britain, offering dramatic views of the English Channel and the coastline. Known mainly for its beautiful vista, the Seven Sisters coast is not a top spot for sunbathing. For those who love nothing more than a brisk walk with a beautiful view, this California counterpart is perfect. Advertisement For a budget break with easy access to Beachy Head and Seven Sisters Country Park, as well as the lively seafront, the White Park Bay in County Antrim or Greek Islands? 21 The stunning White Park Bay in Northern Ireland is close to the Giant's Causeway where Game of Thrones was filmed, but it looks more like Greece Credit: Alamy 21 Balons Lagoon in Crete is a true beauty spot, but it can be overrun with boats carrying daytrippers Credit: Alamy With a blanket of soft white sand and incredibly clear, blue water, this spectacular sandy beach is in an enviable spot, nestled between headlands on the North Antrim Coast. Its secluded location means that even in the height of summer, there is plenty of room for a Advertisement The beach is also backed by protected, ancient sand dunes that provide a range of rich habitats for bird and animal life, managed by the You may even spot this spectacular spot as the famous backdrop to fictional Stormlands and Dragonstone, from the TV series Game of Thrones. It's so beautiful here, the location is a dead ringer for the idyllic The sweeping beach at Balos Lagoon is one of the most However, in the summer months, an abundance of tourist boats arrive in the bay, meaning it's crowded and sometimes scattered with litter. Advertisement Certainly not worth the trip if you can enjoy Make it even cuter with a stay in a cosy fairy pod cabin, sleeping four for £100 per night at nearby Villefranche Sur Mer or Dartmouth, Devon? 21 Darmouth in Devon is a quintessential British seaside town with postcard-perfect views and excellent fresh seafood Credit: Alamy 21 Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera is stunning, but very busy in summer, and it's difficult to explore on a budget Credit: Alamy Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of the most charming and colourful towns on the Advertisement Think cute, cobbled streets and crooked, character-filled houses that wouldn't look out of place However, just a short drive and Closer to home, the quintessential English seaside village of For outdoorsy types, there are walking trails straight out to the sea, plus you'll have your pick of some of the If you don't mind being a bit further away, Torquey, the Advertisement
