Druridge Bay, Northumberland

Druridge Bay is the antidote to a crowded seaside beach: seven miles of golden sand backed by dunes and a wildlife-rich country park with a lake, stretching between Amble and Cresswell. Dogs are welcome all year and the emptiness is the whole point, with room to walk for miles even in peak season. It is exposed to the North Sea so it can be bracing, and facilities are limited compared with busier resorts, but for owners who want a proper wild coastal walk it is hard to beat. The country park at the northern end adds a lakeside loop and a visitor centre for gentler days.