Salt Pan

The sand here gets its name from salt-making works that operated centuries ago, though these days the main draw is the wide, sandy beach itself. Salt Pan sits just north of Berwick-upon-Tweed, which means you're right on the Scottish border - that slight tang in the air isn't just the sea. The beach is properly expansive at low tide, with rock pools worth poking about in and enough space that even on busy summer days you won't feel hemmed in. The sand is firm underfoot, which makes it ideal for walking rather than lounging. Families with young kids will appreciate the shallow approach to the water and the chance to build castles without fighting for elbow room. Older children and teenagers might find it a bit exposed and windswept for extended beach days. Walkers absolutely rate this stretch - the coastal path here is straightforward and rewards you with uninterrupted views north toward Scotland. There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, so bring supplies from Berwick. The best time to come is when the wind isn't howling off the North Sea, which narrows your window considerably between May and September. If you're basing yourself at nearby Haven Haggerston Castle or the more highly-regarded Barn at Beal, Salt Pan makes an easy morning trip before heading inland. It's not a day-long destination on its own, but as part of a coastal walk or a quick break from caravan life, it does the job well. Bring proper footwear if the tide's in - the beach shelves steeply in places.