The beach ‘better than the Caribbean’ an hour’s flight away from Manchester Airport

A tropical island beach with white sand and crystal clear water is a dream summer destination for many. But while it would be nice to go on holiday to the Caribbean or the Maldives, they do involve uncomfortable long-haul flights and expensive tickets.

But there’s somewhere closer to home you can visit where you’ll find beaches which could rival those in the Caribbean – and you won’t even need a passport. Located on Cornwall’s north coast, Newquay boasts an impressive 12 beaches, making it the perfect summer holiday destination.

The best part – it’s only an hour and 10 minutes flight away from Manchester Airport. EasyJet offers flights to Newquay starting from £33 one way, with returns available for as little as £21. Travelling by plane means you don’t have to worry about navigating traffic or worrying about somewhere to park.

The ‘bucket list’ European destination that’s a £25 flight from Manchester Airport

Among Newquay’s beaches is the iconic Fistral Beach. It’s a stunning stretch of golden sand and its west-facing location facing the Atlantic means it has excellent waves for surfing.

In fact the beach hosts major international surfing competitions. Even if you’re not a professional surfer, there are plenty of surf schools and hire shops nearby where you can give it a go.

Fistral Beach is perhaps Newquay’s most popular and it’s received more than 3,000 five star reviews on TripAdvisor. One visitor from Oldham wrote: “Wow this beach is amazing, I’m in awe it definitely has the wow factor. It’s on par with the Caribbean”.

Another visitor from Hebden Bridge said: “What can I say about Fistral Beach, simply the best beach I have ever been to! I have done most of Greece, Florida, Caribbean and a lot of Europe – but this is the best beach I have visited.”

For a completely different experience, head to Porth Beach, which lies at the northern end of Newquay. More of a narrow cove, it’s flat and shallow so not ideal for surfing, but great for paddleboarding and kayaking.

Close to the centre of the town is Towan Beach. At one end of the beach is an island which rises 80ft above the sand and is connected to the mainland with a suspension bridge.

On top of the island is a three-bedroomed house, which started off life as a Victorian tea room, with the Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reputedly a visitor. It was converted into a three-bed Edwardian house in the 1930s.

The house was sold by its previous owner, Lord Viscount Long, in 2012 and it’s now run as a holiday let. It offers guests a unique stay and even boasts its own bar, although a stay here doesn’t come cheap.

It’s already nearly booked up for the summer, with a week in the peak season costing £5,600. Still, it’s nice to dream and you can admire the island and its impressive bridge from the beach for free.

As well as beaches, Newquay has lots of other attractions to keep you entertained during your visit. Hop on board a boat trip from the harbour and keep your eyes peeled for Newquay Grey Seals, dolphins and basking sharks which can be found in the waters surrounding the town. Away from the sea, Trenance Gardens and Leisure Park features beautiful gardens, a boating lake, and plenty of family-friendly attractions including a zoo, miniature railway and crazy golf.

There’s a range of accommodation options in Newquay, with prices starting from around £40. For more details on flights and to book, click here.

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