Horden Beach

The beach at Horden stretches out grey and wide, backed by old colliery workings and a landscape that tells you this stretch of the Durham coast has seen better days - or at least different ones. It's honest, unpretentious seaside, the kind where you won't fight crowds or pay premium rates for a burger. The sand is decent enough when the tide's out, the pebbles rougher than you'd find down south, and the sea itself proper cold even in summer.

What makes it work is exactly what doesn't work elsewhere - there's no amusement arcade, no gift shop selling inflatable dolphins, no cafe charging £8 for a coffee. Dog walkers love it. Families with older kids will get a day out of it, though toddlers might find the sheer emptiness a bit much. The real appeal is straightforward: wide open space, a decent walk either direction along the coast, and the kind of solitude you've got to drive to find these days.

Parking is free and accessible right by the beach. You could easily spend two hours here, longer if you're the type who likes walking the shoreline towards Seaham or back towards Crimdon. Tide times matter - at high water there's barely a strip of sand, so check before you head out.

It sits well within a week based around Hartlepool's attractions. The Barn at Easington, just a couple of miles inland, rates five stars and makes sense as a base - you're close to the beach but far enough back to access better facilities. Castledene and Parkdean Resorts Crimdon Dene are both within striking distance if you want holiday park amenities.