It’s the final bank holiday weekend before Christmas which means summer has officially come to an end.
If you’re looking to make the most of it, but don’t want to be surrounded by crowds of people amid coronavirus, then heading to a lesser known beach could be the answer.
You could even make a stay of it seeing as some of the more remote beaches in the UK are a bit of a journey away from Manchester.
And, despite the local lockdown measures imposed on the region, people from Greater Manchester can still travel out of the area for leisure and visit beaches, as long as you’re just with your household.
Showerstoyou.co.uk has discovered some of the UK’s hidden gems by analysing Instagram data to see which beauty spots had the least hashtags.
And these six secluded sites promises a much needed break from city life and a calming change of scenery in difficult times.
Coves Haven Beach, Holy Island
Coves Haven, located at the north side of Holy Island in Northumberland, has been identified as the most remote beach to visit - with only four hashtags.
The cove is surrounded by high sand dunes and steep cliffs, providing a beautiful view of the coast. And if you visit when the tide is low, you’ll be able to explore plenty of rock pools.
There’s no lifeguard service so do be careful if you go in for a swim, dogs are allowed to visit.
Strathy Bay, Scotland
This beach in the Scottish Highlands has the River Strathy on one side and the north coast's spectacular cliffs on the other side - unsurprisingly it was nominated as one of Scotland's best beaches in 2019.
It’s popular with surfers because it’s sheltered, and also has a nearby Strathy Inn serving pub grub.
Gammons Head Beach, Devon
You may think that everywhere in Devon would be rammed with tourists, but this small, sandy cove is a great hideaway that disappears at high tide - so do be careful.
The cove, located along the South West Coast Path, is sheltered by amazing high cliffs - which also means it’s a steepish climb down.
Rumbling Kern, Northumberland
Another hidden gem in Northumberland is Rumbling Kern near Howick - south of Cullernose Point.
The not so well-known beach is hidden behind cliffs that face inland from the sea, making it ideal for a peaceful gateway.
While sunbathing with a picnic, you can catch sight of the 'Bathing House' - which was once a retreat used by former Prime Minister Earl Grey and his family.
A little further inland you can also visit Howick Hall, once home to Lord Grey, if the weather doesn't hold out at the beach.
Traeth Llyfn, Pembrokeshire
This remote spot between Porthain and Abereiddi in Wales is backed by towering cliffs, so it can only be reached by taking the very steep metal stairs.
Visit Pembrokeshire’s website says it’s 'so remote, you’ll probably find you’re the only one on it'.
Although it’s a sandy beach, it’s also rocky with plenty of rock pools to explore.
Drigg, Lake District
This beach is a rare find but the most popular of the least tagged beaches, garnering 658 hashtags.
Drigg is a small village on the coast between the Esk estuary and Ravenglass, and even has its own train station for accessibility.
The stretch of sand is the largest dune system in Cumbria, supporting many species such as blue fleabane and also home to the largest seabird breeding colonies in the north west.
On the border of the Lake District, it’s an ideal area to stop over where you can also take in the many waterfalls and breathtaking hikes nearby.
The study also discovered these other remote beaches: West Voe, Shetland Islands; Shepherd’s Chine, Isle of Wight; Sinclairs Bay, Highland; Porthbeor, Cornwall; Speke’s Mill Mouth, Devon; Langamull Beach, Isle of Mull; Fidden, Isle of Mull; Traeth Mawr, Glamorgan; Traeth Bychan Beach, Anglesey.
