Murphy's Beach

The stretch of sand at Murphy's Beach, just outside Berwick-upon-Tweed, is one of those spots that rewards a proper look around rather than a quick glance from the car park. It's a working beach - you'll see fishing boats and the genuine business of the harbour mixed in with the seaside atmosphere. The sand itself is golden when the light hits it right, and at low tide you get a fair expanse to walk across.

This is walker territory, really. Families with younger children might find it a bit exposed and windswept, but if you've got teenagers or you're after a solid coastal ramble, it's worth the trip. The beach connects well with the wider Berwick coastline, so you can string together a longer route if you fancy it. The town itself is just a short walk away, which means you can combine a beach morning with lunch or coffee without much faffing about.

The big draw is the unpretentious quality of it. There's no ice cream van fanfare or amusement arcade - just genuine Scottish Borders coastline doing its thing. Parking can be tight in summer, so going mid-week or out of season is sensible. If you're based at Haven Berwick Holiday Centre or any of the other parks nearby, Murphy's Beach works as a low-key half-day plan rather than an all-day event. Allow an hour or so for a proper walk, longer if you want to explore the wider strand.