UK’s best white sand beach ‘puts Florida’s Palm Beach to shame’

White sand beaches might be most commonly associated with tropical destinations but that doesn’t mean there aren’t gorgeous white sand shorelines to explore right here in the UK. Twinkling on the Norfolk coastline is a beach which has been described as a “jewel in the crown of the North Norfolk Coast” and offers a stretch of sand that “puts Palm Beach to shame”.

The prestigious accolades were given by the team at Dog Friendly Cottages, who offer an array of holiday rentals across the UK.

The team rounded up 10 of their favourite white sand beaches in the UK and placed Norfolk’s Holkham Beach in the top spot.

The experts used digital colour analysis and Google Satellite Images to find which beach has the “whitest sand”. The report stated: “The UK’s whitest beach by a country mile is Holkham Beach – less than three hours from London on the North Norfolk coast.

“Holkham beach is the jewel in the crown of the North Norfolk Coast, the beach stretches for miles and miles at low tide.”

The beach at Holkham is described by the local tourism board as “one of the most unspoilt stretches of sand in the country” and spans 3.5km. The beach is part of the Holkham Estate, a 25,000-acre agricultural estate which is home to Palladian Hall, Pinewoods Holiday Park at Wells, the Victoria Inn and the Holkham National Nature Reserve.

The nature reserve which stretches from Burnham Norton to Blakeney features many rare species of flora and fauna and promises incredible views of windswept tides, grazing marshes, creaks and salt marsh.

The beach welcomes both dogs and horses. Dogs are welcome year-round, though an on-lead policy is in place between April 1 and August 30 to protect ground-nesting birds.

Horseriders are also permitted to enjoy the sandy stretch but are asked to exercise care and consideration of other beachgoers as well as vulnerable wildlife in the area.

However, it’s not just day-trippers who have been attracted to Holkham, with even Hollywood being lured in by the gorgeous sandy shores.

The Dog Friendly Cottages report said: “This dreamy coastal landscape was the backdrop for the closing scenes of Shakespeare in Love when Gwyneth Paltrow’s character strolls across the seemingly never-ending sands after her love affair with Joseph Fiennes’ Shakespeare comes to an end.”

After a long walk along the shore, many visitors venture into the pinewoods, where the sudden silence is a contrast to the coastal breeze. The cushion of needles absorbs noise and the high canopy above protects the area from the wind.

The pines have called the area home since the late 19th century when they were planted by the second Earl of Leicester.

Nearby Holkham Hall has more than 400 years of history hidden away within its walls and is open to visitors, who can explore the hall and its gardens.