The Beach

The Suffolk coast near Bury delivers exactly what you'd expect from an East Anglian beach - wide shingle stretches, proper bracing air, and the kind of light that makes you understand why painters have been drawn here for centuries. The beach itself is straightforward: long, pebbly, backed by low cliffs and the odd beach hut. On a decent day it's genuinely lovely. On a grey one, which is most days, it has a rather melancholic charm.

This isn't the place for bucket-and-spade theatrics. Families with young kids might find an hour enough before the novelty of shingle wears thin. But if you're after a proper coastal walk, launching a kayak, or simply standing around looking at the horizon with a thermos of tea, you'll get on fine here. Walkers particularly benefit from the relatively quiet stretches - you can cover decent distances without fighting crowds.

The nearest facilities are back in Bury, a few miles inland, so come prepared. Parking is straightforward, and there's no entrance fee that I'm aware of. Best visited outside July and August when it's less hectic, though that does mean accepting rather more wind and occasional drizzle.

Staying at one of the nearby parks - Willow Grove Farm Glamping is the closest at just over five miles, or Kings Forest Caravan & Camping Park if you want a more traditional base - gives you easy access without the daily drive. The beach works well as part of a broader Suffolk coastal loop rather than a destination in itself.