Six of the best seaside resorts

Read why a seaside resort could be the right move for you

Where? Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria, between the mountains of the Lake District and the sandy stretches of Morecambe Bay.

Why? The perfect old-fashioned resort, transformed from a small fishing village into a grand Victorian town, full of limestone merchant's houses, by the arrival of the Furness railway. Today, it is famous for its pretty gardens, mild climate and good walks, with an attractive town centre full of independent shops, including a quality butcher and baker.

What can I get for my money?

£250,000 A detached house with four bedrooms, decorative cornices, picture rails, sash windows and a garden.

£475,000 A four-bedroom house dating back to 1900, with period features, a vegetable garden and views to Morecambe Bay. Poole Townsend (01539 533316; www.pooletownsend.co.uk).

£800,000 Part 17th-century farmhouse with an Aga, beamed ceilings, inglenook fireplace, four bedrooms and a detached barn, in a rural position.

Where? Pretty Tenby, amid the white beaches of southern Pembrokeshire, in Britain's only coastal national park.

Why? A beautiful Georgian town, surrounded on three sides by lovely beaches with a postcard-pretty harbour, ruined castle and brightly painted buildings climbing up the hills. You catch glimpses of the sea from almost anywhere in the town and seafood is always on the menu in Tenby's many pubs - there are more than 20 in the centre alone.

What can I get for my money?

£240,000 A four-bedroom terraced cottage in a central location with a balcony and a private garden.

£500,000 Grade II-listed Georgian vicarage with four bedrooms, high ceilings, original sash windows, conservatory and views to the Gower peninsula.

£995,000 Overlooking the beach, a six-bedroom house with a cast iron balcony, window shutters, original fireplaces and a garden. Knight Frank (01432 273087; www.knightfrank.co.uk).

Where? Colourful Tobermory, a picturesque fishing village backed by high wooded hills on the Isle of Mull.

Why? Tobermory, the administrative centre of Mull, has colourful buildings lining the main street to the pier. Good shops, including a farm shop selling Hebridean lamb and venison, a handful of friendly pubs, restaurants and hotels and a harbour busy with fishing boats, yachts and the ferry to and from Kilchoan during the summer keep Tobermory lively. Too far off the beaten track to attract legions of tourists, it has a strong identity, hosts an annual music festival and is surrounded by beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife, from dolphins to eagles and otters.

What can I get for my money?

£170,000 Traditional stone house just outside Tobermory, with four bedrooms, original cast iron fireplaces and a garden.

£210,000 A 19th-century terraced cottage with views of Tobermory Bay, three bedrooms, a conservatory and garden with fruit trees. MacArthur Stewart (01631 562215; www.macarthurstewart.co.uk).

£480,000 A six-bedroom Victorian villa in an elevated position, with large bay windows, high ceilings, a greenhouse and views of the bay.

Where? Stylish Southwold, where the River Blyth meets the North Sea on the Suffolk heritage coast.

Why? Despite its popularity with visitors (including PM Gordon Brown), Southwold remains a dignified and friendly working town. In addition to the central lighthouse, refurbished pier and pretty beach huts that give it a unique atmosphere, it boasts great amenities, a twice-weekly market and a tiny, 66-seat cinema.

What can I get for my money?

£230,000 A one-bedroom cottage with a courtyard, situated in a Conservation Area and close to the beach

£435,000 A period cottage close to the beach, with three bedrooms, a conservatory with French doors and courtyard garden with shed. Jennie Jones (01502 722065; www.jennie-jones.com).

£650,000 A Grade II-listed, four-bedroom house with sash windows, a courtyard garden with shed and sea glimpses.

Where? Higgledy-piggledy Whitby, a history-soaked harbour town, clinging to the North Yorkshire cliffs.

Why? The graveyard of the hilltop St Mary's church inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, but there's little else dark about this bustling, friendly town. A maze of narrow cobbled streets and ginnels (passageways) run down to the busy quayside. The town is famous for its fish and chips (the Magpie Café is highly rated) and has good shops, including Fortune's for kippers and an independent bookshop. There's also an art gallery, attractive park and an annual sandcastle competition on the beach.

What can I get for my money?

£160,000 A one-bedroom maisonette with modern kitchen and bathroom fittings, in a central location on the waterfront.

£430,000 A refurbished 18th-century mill house with three bedrooms, an orchard, stone outbuildings and views across open countryside to the sea.

£600,000 Detached period house with five bedrooms, a separate self-contained holiday apartment and uninterrupted sea views

Where? Looe, based in a steep-sided valley in south-east Cornwall.

Why? Looe is in fact two towns, East and West Looe, which face each other across the River Looe and are connected by a seven-arch bridge. Some quite sizeable homes are scattered up and down the valley side, but you'll find quintessentially Cornish-looking whitewashed terraces, too. Wander the narrow lanes, discovering cosy pubs and friendly shops, or relax on East Looe's sandy beach, separated from the river by the distinctive Banjo pier. There's a beautiful coastal walk to Polperro from here, or for further afield, a branch line connects Looe to Liskeard and beyond.

£170,000 A recently refurbished terraced cottage near the beach, with two bedrooms and beamed ceilings.

£470,000 Grade II-listed former lime kiln and cottage with a 2-acre riverfront garden, summerhouse and private, spring-fed water supply.

£730,000 An 18th century, harbour-front property in East Looe, with a ground floor retail space and a spacious three bedroom residence above. Webbers (01208 73298; www.webbers.co.uk)

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

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