Hutley’s Beach

The stretch of beach at Hutley's, just east of Clacton-on-Sea, is one of those places that rewards you for looking beyond the town's amusement arcades and chip shops. It's a proper Essex coastline - shingle mixed with sand, backed by a low promenade that feels genuinely local rather than touristy. You get wide open views across the North Sea when the tide's out, and the beach itself has enough character to justify the walk from town centre.

It works best for families who don't mind a slightly rougher beach experience. There's no fancy facilities, which is either refreshing or annoying depending on your mood. Walkers will find the promenade pleasant enough for a morning stroll, though it's not dramatic by any stretch. Kids will entertain themselves digging and paddling, but this isn't the sort of place where they'll be occupied all day. An hour or two here fits nicely into a broader day in the area.

The real draw is proximity to the holiday parks clustered around here - Hutleys Caravan Park is practically on top of it, and both Seawick and St Osyth Beach parks are within spitting distance. If you're based at any of those, you can walk straight onto the beach without bothering with transport. The wider Clacton seafront offers more traditional seaside attractions if you want them, but Hutley's itself is worth a visit for the authenticity. Go off-season if you can; summer crowds thin it out.