Best of British
A really lovely spot to visit is Padstow in the South West of England. This is a charming Cornish fishing village complete with higgledy-piggledy little streets, old English pubs selling the best cider and Cornish ales, boxes of fudge and homemade jams and honey, not to mention good-old fish n’ chips. In fact, Padstow is one of the best seaside places to visit for fish and chips as Rick Stein, the famous chef, has made Padstow his home and set up not only an award-winning restaurant but a cafe selling exquisite British fish n’ chips. Sitting on the harbour-side munching on a Rick Stein special is just heaven. Add to the pleasure with a spot of crab-fishing – the local shops sell string, bait and buckets for tourists to chance their luck in the quayside whilst supping cider in the sun.

Coastal Walks
With countless restaurants to choose from in the town of Padstow, you’ll find yourself needing to walk off your fine meals. Luckily there are some amazing walks that take in both beach and countryside. Miles of golden sands offer fun for kids, dogs and water-sportastic adults alike, while the countryside offers stunning views accessed by heather-scented, winding footpaths along cliff-tops and through sheep-laden fields.

Local flavour
There are a large number of campsites and B&Bs in Padstow so you can take your pick as to your preferred view. Facilities range from basic to more luxury but all are very friendly, informative and make your stay all the more enjoyable. Whether you are dining at your accommodation or in Rick Stein’s swanky restaurant, you can rest assured the food is almost always sourced locally. There is a wealth of great quality local produce in the South West and a trip to Padstow is a great opportunity to sample some fine Cornish delights. Try some freshly caught lobster, a ‘real’ traditional Cornish pasty, Cornish ice-cream or a down-right dirty pack of porky scratchings! Why not – you’re on holiday!

South West sight-seeing
If you want to explore a little further afield, you can take a drive to The Eden Project in St Austell to see the ‘global garden’. An amazing feat of engineering, the Eden project includes Bio-domes or ‘Biomes’ that house species of flora and fauna from tropical rainforests to the Mediterranean Basin. It really is a stunning experience and a vibrantly vivid, sensory journey across the world. Also quite good if it is raining!

Great surfing bays at Padstow

Surfing
If you fancy yourself as a surfer and would much rather spend your time on the beach however, there are numerous surfing spots in and around Padstow. The vast sandy beaches that reach out into a slowly deepening sea make this a perfect location for beginners. There are many surf schools around the coast of the South West so you’re likely to find one on most major beaches. Nearby Newquay is the major magnet for surfers who hang out on Newquay beach for the summer. Look out for the VW Beetle convention that happens in the summer, there’s a real buzz around the place at this time. However, be warned that Newquay is also famous for stag and hen weekends so if you are after a quiet holiday, it probably isn’t the place for you.

Legend & Myth
A trip up the road north of Padstow will find you arriving at Tintagel. This is the home of King Arthur’s castle. It is now a National Trust property so you need to pay to get in to see the ruins, but the views are amazing and the surrounding countryside is home to some great walks. You can’t help but muse over the myths and legends surrounding King Arthur as you amble along under the shadow of what was once his great castle.

Explore more of the South West
Whether you choose to stay in Padstow, or use it as a base to explore a little more of the South West, you really won’t be disappointed. What’s more, you’re likely to come back with a new-found love of the British coast and countryside. If you want to see more of it, the South West coastal path covers 630 miles of stunning coastline from Minehead to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Choose a little, choose a lot, choose the whole lot; you’re sure to see the best of British wildlife, heritage and coastal scenery on your way.

Dominical can be found in the Puntarenas area on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and has a permanently perfecct temperature. No matter what time of the year you visit the area it will always be perfect. If you are on a tight budget you can even actually sleep on the beach, something that some of the many surfers that come here do.

The surfers come for one reason more than the others, the surfing in Domincal is world famous and the beaches are fantastic. Right now they are more or less empty as well as a lot of the US tourists fail to come due to their economic situation. My advice to you is to head straight there as it is one of the few truly beautiful places on the earth and you can have it more or less to yourself.

photo by Denis Salazar

But there are some beaches that do get raved about by a lot of people. Some of the top most endorsed beaches appear to be:
 

1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia
Whitehaven beach is your classic, breath-taking, white sandy beach that stretches on until the eye can see. Shallow crystal-clear waters lap across a sandy sea-bed that stretches out to meet the turquoise blue sea. Reached only by boat you can find yourself a secluded spot to sunbathe, swim or enjoy a bit of snorkelling. Simply stunning.

Costa Rica's Tortuga Island

3. The Baths, The British Virgin Islands‘The Baths’ is a stunning formation of huge, natural boulders that collect around a beautiful champagne coloured sandy beach to form secluded coves and grottoes. The rocks provide habitat for colourful sea-life which makes snorkelling a real pleasure, while the fine sands give the water a clear, crystal shimmer. Rock arches house vibrant blue pools to explore and the boulders lend themselves nicely to private sunbathing coves.

4. Lefaga, Samoa
More commonly known as Paradise Beach through its history on the silver screen, this Samoan gem is the things dreams are made of. Characterised by little wooden huts that you have the option to stay in, you feel like you have been swept away to a true paradise island. It’s a place that makes you want to go and forage for fruits or fish with a spear.