10 of the UK's best beaches for swimming

Southbourne, Dorset

With golden sands and clear water, Southbourne is generally calmer than nearby Bournemouth beaches. And it's one of the few stretches of the coast where parking is still free. The tide moves east or west, depending on its rise and fall, so it's worth checking the tide times. The coast here offers a nice long swim, and you can use the groynes to map your distance. Swim in the tidal current before returning to your starting point and ending the day at the excellent Baffi Pizzeria, just steps from the beach.

Hope Cove, Devon

There are two bays in Hope Cove, Inner and Outer. Lifeguards are on the outer bay but the inner bay is nice for swimming at high tide. The swim from the harbor side across the bay is around 250 meters, so it's easy to do lengths of up to a kilometer. It's a little more sheltered from the weather here, but the wind is a big factor, so check the wind forecast as well as the tide. Swim on an early morning tide, then enjoy breakfast at The Cove.

Trearddur bay, Anglesey