1 Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides: a sweep of Maldives-style white sand
2 Great Bay, St Martins, Scilly Isles: beautiful, remote, subtropical
3 Oldshoremore, Sutherland: two miles from the nearest village, fringed by marram grass dunes
4 Porthcurno, Cornwall: gorgeous cove near Land's End
5 Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire: no vehicle access, crescent of white sand
6 Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland: huge, with a castle
7 Brancaster Beach, Norfolk: desolate but stunning, in an area of outstanding natural beauty
8 Oxwich Bay, Gower Peninsula: three miles of golden sand dunes to run down
9 Lannacombe, South Hams, Devon: tiny but lovely – and barely visited
10 Portstewart Strand, Northern Ireland: you can always find a quiet spot on this long stretch