10 of the best UK beaches for swimming
Whether you want to swim long distances safely, or just bob about in a beautiful spot, there is a bay or cove to suit
‘Our most successful holiday’: 10 trips our teenage kids loved
From hiking in the Lakes to surfing in Biarritz, our writers share their success stories and tips on how you and your kids can have a happy holiday
‘My favourite place in the world’: readers’ favourite beaches in Spain
From tiny coves to breezy surfing meccas, our tipsters tell us about their best Spanish coast discoveries
Hidden France: where to stay and what to do off the beaten track
If you dream of salt pans and chalets on stilts, wild heather-clad hillsides and car-free isles …
Hidden Portugal: where to stay and what to do off the beaten track
Hauntingly beautiful villages, thermal springs, unspoilt beaches, fairytale castles ... Portugal has so much more to offer than the bustle of the Algarve
‘So gorgeous you’ll shed tears of joy’: readers’ favourite beaches in Greece
From Ithaca to Milos via the Peloponnese, our tipsters wax lyrical about glorious beach sojourns
The world beneath the waves: how to get the most out of rockpooling
Expert tips on discovering the secret world that exists between low and high tide
Spooky shipwrecks and singing sands: 10 of the UK’s weirdest beaches
Expect the unexpected on these UK shores that go against the grain
‘The kids gaze as if it’s the Pantanal’: a cool canal break in Worcestershire
On a sleek boat complete with mood lighting, we kick back and enjoy the challenge of the mid-Worcestershire canal loop – covering 21 miles and 33 locks in a weekend
‘Brighton draws me back, time and again’: six authors on Britain’s best seaside resorts
From Millport’s Crocodile Rock to Whitley Bay’s Spanish City, six authors revel in the enduring old-fashioned charm of British seaside
‘Perfect for a caipirinha and sunset’: readers’ favourite beaches of Portugal
Our tipsters take to the sands, seas and restaurants of exquisite beaches from north of Porto to the island of Madeira
Sizzle your bangers at the table: 10 great new bits of camping kit
From palatial tents to table-top grills, you’ll be a happy – and toasty – camper with this outdoor kit
Too posh to pitch? 10 of the UK’s best new glamping sites
From converted steam engines to Persian tents and a castle hut with turrets, these glamping sites are in a field of their own
10 UK campsites within walking distance to a pub
From Cumbria to the Isle of Wight, here’s where to park your tent and then soak up the views and local brews
‘Enticed through the gates of heaven’: readers’ best French beaches
Rockpools, pine trees, sand, surf and sunshine … our tipsters recall gorgeous beaches from Normandy to the Côte de Vermeille