Quiet UK beach that’s ‘unlike any other’ – with tidal lagoon and 19th century fort where you can spend the night
A UK beach has been recently described as being “unlike any other” thanks to its tidal lagoon and limited facilities.
Despite stretching for nearly one mile, Shingle Street Beach in Suffolk has largely flown underneath the tourist radar.
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Located at the mouth of the River Alde, Shingle Street Beach faces Orford Ness – a 10-mile-long shingle spit.
Once home to fishermen who maneuvered their boats along the River Ore, the beach has been growing in popularity among holidaymakers.
The Suffolk beach, which is a mixture of pebbles and shingles, has recently been dubbed Suffolk’s best hidden gem by East Anglian Daily News.
They wrote: “It’s a beach unlike any other in Suffolk and slowly, more and more people are falling for its charm.
“Shingle Street is not like other beaches. With very little facilities, it’s not quite Southwold, Felixstowe or Aldeburgh – but that’s what makes it great.”
Compared to beaches in Lowestoft and Felixstowe, Shingle Street Beach offers a slice of calm for those beach-goers looking to escape the crowds.
Sitting at the heart of the beach, is its tidal lagoon, which is arguably one of its biggest draws, with the newspaper writing: “It’s not uncommon to see swimmers doing lengths of the lagoon all year round.”
Back in 2022, Travel Mag added: “It is also popular with swimmers. Tidal lagoons have formed in different places over the years and there is currently a big enclosed natural pool where people can swim and paddle at high tide.
“It’s a beautiful place for wild swimming, with the benefits of the sea in the lagoon but the safety of not being out in the open.”
The best time for swimming is two hours after high tide, with visitors being encouraged to check tide times online before visiting.
Beach-goers are advised against swimming at low tide, as quicksand can form on the sea bed.
Holidaymakers should also be weary of rip tides at Shingle Street Beach – especially as there are no lifeguards on duty.
For those beach-goers who don’t fancy a dip in the tidal lagoon, there are a couple of other attractions at the little-known beach.
One of those is the Martello Tower – a defensive fort that was built to keep the French navy at bay where holidaymakers can book an overnight stay.
From the very top rooms, and its balcony, guests will be treated to panoramic views.
A description on the Visit England website reads: “As soon as you step inside you’ll be greeted with chic furnishings, wood burners to keep you toasty in winter and magical views of what seems like an endless sea from the kitchen, huge living room area and balcony – the perfect spot for a seafood feast in summer.
Sun Online Travel have found overnight stays for four nights for £206 per person, based on four people sharing.
It’s a beautiful place for wild swimming
There’s also the Shingle Street Shell Line – a 275m-long line of white seashells that were arranged by Lida Kindersley and Els Bottema, two friends who were both undergoing cancer treatment.
Some 20,000 white whelk shells form the line, with the line undergoing repairs every so often.
Local resident Tim Miller told the BBC: “Despite fierce weather conditions with strong winds, the line remains clear and powerful and visible throughout the year. The line for me is a signal of courage and survival.”
Shingle Street Beach is a 39-minute drive from Ipswich, and it’s a 40-minute drive from Felixstowe.
If you can’t make it to Suffolk, there are a number of other hidden beaches in the UK to investigate.
In Kent, there is Palm Bay which is away from the main Margate Sands.
Instead, it has the Walpole Bay Lido – the largest of it’s kind in the country – as well as a stretch of sand that mainly locals visit.
Swimming safety advice
Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer:
How to stay safe at the beach
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: “If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety.
“If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”
How to stay safe at the swimming pool
Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: “Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency.
“It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life”.
An Auqabliss spokesperson added: “Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool.
“Children may try to grab these from the pool’s edge and fall in.”
How to stay safe at a waterpark
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: “Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.
“And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
“Waterparks are often very busy places and it’s easy to lose sight of a child in a split second.”
Worbarrow Bay in Dorset is also rather secluded, being a 20 minute journey you can only make by foot.
And here’s a hidden cove in Dartmouth that only locals know about.