Silloth west beach

The beach at Silloth curves away in a long, gentle arc facing the Solway Firth, and on a clear day you can see Scotland across the water. It's a proper working-class seaside spot - the kind of place where the charm comes from authenticity rather than development. The promenade has that faded Victorian feel, with the old amusement arcade still going and a decent fish and chips shop propping up one end.

Walking the sands themselves is the main event. The beach is wide and firm underfoot at low tide, stretching on for miles if you've got the legs for it. The water's cold even in summer - this is the Irish Sea after all - but that doesn't stop families paddling and the occasional hardy soul actually swimming. The light here is something special in the late afternoon, all golden and soft across the wet sand.

It's not a destination in itself, if I'm honest. You won't spend all day here unless you're the contemplative type or have young kids building castles. But it's absolutely worth an hour or two if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Stanwix Park is barely half a mile away, and North Lakes Country Park makes a decent base too. Wigton's the nearest town for supplies, though it's a short drive inland.

Winter storms kick up properly here, which makes for dramatic walks and proper Atlantic weather. Summer brings families in the school holidays. Either way, bring a windproof. The Solway coast isn't forgiving.