Irlam’s Beach

The shingle beach at Irlam, just outside Harwich, won't make your Instagram feed sing - but that's rather the point. This is proper East Anglian coastline: grey-brown stones, industrial heritage looming in the distance, and the kind of bracing wind that clears your head in minutes. The beach itself is narrow and functional, backed by scrubland rather than candy-coloured beach huts. You'll see container ships queuing in the estuary, which sounds odd until you realise how fascinating it is to watch them glide past while you're standing on the strand with a flask of tea.

It's the sort of place walkers and nature spotters actually enjoy, rather than families seeking a traditional seaside day out. The shingle gets uncomfortable underfoot after about twenty minutes, and there's not much in the way of facilities or golden sand to keep restless kids entertained. But if you're staying at Dovercourt Holiday Park just down the road, or doing a wider coastal loop taking in Felixstowe Beach Holiday Park further south, it's worth the wander to see how the Suffolk coast truly works - industrial, unglamorous, and quietly compelling.

Free to access, naturally. Allow thirty minutes to an hour depending on whether you're just stretching your legs or actually stopping to watch the ships. The light here is brilliant in late afternoon, particularly in winter when the low sun catches the water properly. Best visited on a clear day when you can actually see Essex across the water.