Druridge Bay Country Park Beach

Three miles of proper sandy beach backed by dunes and grassland - that's what Druridge Bay Country Park delivers, and it's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick tick-box visit. The beach itself is wide and gently shelving, which means it works well for families with younger kids who want to paddle without you having a heart attack. There's a car park right at the entrance, so you're not trudging across half of Northumberland to get your feet wet.

The real draw here is space. Even in summer, you can find stretches where you're not surrounded by body-to-body deckchairs and the smell of fried onions. The dunes are accessible and worth exploring if you've got an hour to kill - the vegetation changes as you move inland, and on a clear day you get decent views along the coast towards Cresswell and beyond. Dog walkers absolutely flock here, which tells you something about how well-managed it is.

Walkers should budget two to three hours to see both the beach and the park properly. It's free to access, and there's no real time pressure - you come here to decompress, not to knock items off a list. Winter and early spring are genuinely lovely; the summer crowds are manageable but present.

For a park holiday, you're well-positioned if you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Cresswell Towers or Golden Sands - both are minutes away. It's the sort of coastal spot that makes a caravan park weekend actually feel like a break, rather than just somewhere to park the van while you drive about.