From secluded island coves to vast, filmic sand dunes, Miranda Krestovnikoff, the presenter of TV's 'Coast', counts down her favourite UK shoreline spots

Mull is Scotland's most dramatic island, with mountain peaks and steep cliffs, edged by three hundred miles of coastline, plus the occasional white sandy beach. Calgary Bay, tucked between two headlands in the  north-west corner, is the best. The beach feels secluded and in winter you're likely to be the only person admiring the views to the islands of Tiree and Coll beyond. Basking sharks, seals, dolphins and porpoises are regularly sighted off the coast.

Visit Scotland (0845 225 5121, www.visitscotland.co.uk)

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Bamburgh, Northumberland

Bamburgh is the perfect fusion of man and nature. The beach, sheltered by dunes, stretches for miles of magnificent golden sands, and dominating the skyline is the majestic outline of Bamburgh Castle. It's one of England's most dramatic sights. Bamburgh beach is quiet, clean and litter-free, even during the main holiday season. Swimming is safe if you avoid the rocks, and surfers rate the waves, which break left and right by way of shifting sand bars.

Berwick-upon-Tweed TIC  (01289 330733, www.visitnorthumberland.com)

Llanddwyn Bay, Anglesey

Beaches don't get much better than Llanddwyn Bay: the journey to the sand through the pine trees of Newborough Forest is picturesque and the whole area forms a National Nature Reserve. The beach shelves gently and is safe for swimming. In the distance you will see Llanddwyn Island, steeped in history. St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, is said to have retired there with a broken heart.

(01248 713177, ww.visitanglesey.co.uk).

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Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall

Standing on the rugged cliffs above Bedruthan Steps, you're face to face with one of Cornwall's wildest views, with tall rock stacks shaped like turrets, sphinxes and ice-cream whirls on the beach below. Legend has it that Bedruthan, a Cornish giant, scattered them as stepping stones over the bay. When the tide's out, a mile-long stretch of sand is revealed around the monoliths. Carnewas

National Trust (01637 860563, www.nationaltrust.org.uk).

The small village of St Bees is beautifully positioned at the end of a valley, just south of Whitehaven, with a long, sandy beach, beginning near St Bees Head. The red sandstone cliffs of the head are more than 300 feet high and a haven for nesting seabirds, such as puffins, razorbills, terns and black guillemots. St Bees is also the starting point of Alfred Wainwright's famous 1972 Coast to Coast walk across England.

Egremont TIC (01946 820693, www.stbees.org.uk)

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Alum Chine, Bournemouth, Dorset

Bournemouth has seven miles of golden sandy beaches, but perhaps the prettiest and quietest is that of Alum Chine. The beach is narrow, backed with a promenade and beach huts (which you can hire), and swimming on its gently shelving sands is extremely safe, with lifeguards throughout the summer season.

Bournemouth TIC (0845 0511700, www.bournemouth.co.uk).

St Brelade's Bay, Jersey

It might be Jersey's busiest beach in summer but St Brelade's is also one of the most beautiful. Located on the south coast, the sands are soft and golden, and the calm waters make it a haven for safe swimming and water sports. You can hire pedalos and kayaks, take a trip around the bay in a speedboat or by hanging onto a banana boat, play volleyball or trampoline on the foreshore, or relax in one of the cafés.

Jersey TIC (01534 448800, www.jersey.com).

Oxwich Bay, Gower Peninsula

One of the Gower's most dramatic and popular beaches, Oxwich Bay is a haven for sailing and other water sports. When the tide is out, you can walk more than two miles along the sand to the three rocky pyramids of the aptly named Three Cliffs Bay. Behind the beach's sand dunes is Oxwich Burrows, a National Nature Reserve.

Swansea TIC (01792 468321, www.enjoygower.com).

Camber Sands, East Sussex

No wonder Camber Sands is often used as a location for films and fashion shoots - its towering sand dunes and two-mile-long golden beach make a fantastic backdrop. It's a big draw for watersports fans, especially kite-surfing. When the tide goes out for up to half a mile, it leaves a broad expanse of sand - even at the height of summer, you can still find a quiet spot to put down your towel. But beware of the fast-returning tide - you can get stranded if you're not careful.

Rye TIC (01797 226696, www.visitrye.co.uk).

Blackpool Sands, Devon

This is one of the most picturesque beaches in the country: a crescent, two-thirds of a mile long, with golden sand and aquamarine seas. Its (usually) calm, sheltered waters make it a popular summer destination, and it has everything you need for a great beach day out, including a sandcastle-building pit for little ones, an eco-café, shop, award-winning toilets and water-sports equipment for hire.

Teignmouth TIC (01626 215665, www.dawlish-warren.com)

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