Add a touch of inspiration

We all need a bit of inspiration every now and again - here's our guide to enjoying the best the British coastline has to offer this summer

Celebrate the British summer by heading for the seaside. And make it a top-quality beach, with our handy list of Blue Flag awards.

 

To be awarded Blue Flag status, the beach must have high standards of cleanliness and management, promote coastal environmental care and have attained high water quality. It refers only to the busier 'resort' beaches.

 

Keep Britain Tidy is the group responsible for Blue Flag in England. Chief executive Phil Barton, said: ‘We keep being told that our love affair with the seaside has been on the rocks. But as far as we are concerned England's beach resorts go from strength to strength.

‘Now is the time for the English to rekindle passion for traditional beach holidays in this country. Our beaches are fabulous places to visit and that's official. Blue Flag is only awarded to beaches that have good access, top notch facilities, are litter free and have clean sea-water.

‘We are challenging people to avoid overseas air travel and be kind to the environment by holidaying at home.'

 

Choose a beach from these Blue Flag winners around the country - and enjoy a fresh twist on a regional speciality while you're there...

 

England and Northern Ireland

 

South West

Bantham; Bigbury-on-Sea; Blackpool Sands; Bournemouth, Alum Chine; Bournemouth, Durley Chine; Bournemouth, Fisherman's Walk; Bournemouth, Southbourne Beach; Carbis Bay; Challaborough; Crooklets; Dawlish Warren; Gyllyngvase; Marazion; Polzeath; Poole, Branksome Chine; Poole, Canford Cliffs Chine; Poole, Sandbanks Peninsular; Poole, Shore Road; Porthmeor; Porthminster; Porthtowan; Sandy Bay; Sennen Cove; Swanage Central; Torbay, Breakwater Beach; Torbay, Broadsands Beach; Torbay, Goodrington South Sands; Torbay, Meadfoot Beach; Torbay, Oddicombe Beach; Torbay, Paignton Beach; Torbay, Preston Beach; Tunnels Beaches; Westward Ho!; Woolacombe Sands.

 

Try a new twist on a traditional cream tea, topping those scones with Philadelphia and jam, instead of clotted cream

 

 

North East

Bridlington, North Beach ; Filey; Hornsea; Sandhaven, South Shields; Scarborough North Bay; Seaton Carew Foreshore; Tynemouth, King Edwards Bay; Tynemouth, Longsands South; Whitby West Cliff; Whitley Bay; Withernsea.

 

Top off a freshly grilled pikelet with a generous layer of Philadelphia

 

East Anglia

Brightlingsea Beach; Cromer; Dovercourt Bay; East Beach, Shoeburyness; Felixstowe South; Jubilee Beach; Lowestoft North of Claremont Pier; Lowestoft South of Claremont Pier; Mundesley; Sea Palling; Shoebury Common Beach; Southwold Pier Beach.

 

Try Cromer crab Philly style: mix the crab meat with Philadelphia before baking in the oven

 

Midlands

Central Beach, Mablethorpe; Central Beach, Skegness; Central Beach, Sutton on Sea.

 

Spread Staffordshire oatcakes generously with Philadelphia, top with sliced cucumber and roll up.

 

 

Northern Ireland

Cranfield West; Downhill; Magilligan, Benone Strand; Portrush West Strand; Portstewart Strand;

Whiterocks.

 

Make sizzling sausages and creamy mashed potatoes even better by mixing in milk and Garlic & Herb Philadelphia into the mash.

 

 

Southeast

Botany Bay, Broadstairs; Eastbourne Pier to Wish Tower; Hayling Island Central Beach; Hayling Island West Beach; Herne Bay; Hove Lawns; Joss Bay; Littlehampton Coastguards; Margate Main Sands; Minnis Bay; Ramsgate Main Sands; Sandown; Shanklin; St Mildred's Bay, Westgate; Stone Bay, Broadstairs; Tankerton; Ventnor; Walpole Bay, Margate; West Bay, Westgate; West Street; West Wittering Beach; Westbrook Bay.

 

Dip luscious Kentish strawberries into whipped Philadelphia sweetened with a little sugar.

 

Scotland

Aberdour Silver Sands, Fife; Burntisland Beach, Fife; Elie Harbour, Fife; Kirkcudbright Marina, Dumfries and Galloway; Leven East, Fife; Montrose Seafront, Angus; St Andrews West Sands, Fife.

 

Enjoy the traditional Scottish dessert, cranachan, with a twist: mix toasted oatmeal and use Philadelphia instead of double cream, with a slug of whisky

 

Wales

Anglesey: Benllech, Holyhead Marina (Marina); Llanddona; Llanddwyn, Newborough; Porth Dafarch; Trearddur Bay

Bridgend: Porthcawl, Rest Bay; Trecco Bay

Carmarthenshire: Pembrey Country Park, Cefn Sidan; Pendine

Ceredigion: Aberporth; Aberystwyth North; Aberystwyth South; Borth; Llangrannog; New Quay; Traeth Yr Harbwr; Tresaith

Conwy: Deganwy Quay Marina (Marina); Llandudno North Shore; Llandudno West Shore; Penmaenmawr

Denbighshire: Prestatyn Central

Gwynedd: Abersoch; Aberdyfi; Barmouth, Abermaw; Criccieth; Dinas Dinlle (Morfa Dinlle); Fairbourne, Ffriog; Hafan, Pwllheli  (Marina); Pwllhelli, Marian y De; Tywyn; Victoria Dock, Caernarfon (Marina)

Pembrokeshire: Amroth; Broadhaven North; Dale; Lydstep; Newgale Sands; Poppit Sands; St David's Whitesands; Saundersfoot; Tenby Castle; Tenby North; Tenby South

Swansea: Bracelet Bay; Caswell Bay; Langland Bay; Port Eynon; Swansea Marina (Marina)

Vale Of Glamorgan: Barry, Whitmore Bay.

 

Try that teatime treat, Welsh cakes, slathered with Philadelphia.

 

Once you've chosen your beach, enjoy some family fun with our ideas for beach games and pastimes:

 

Get high: Take full advantage of the lovely sea breeze (and we don't mean the cocktail!) and fly, fly, fly a kite.

Hoop dreams: Escape to wonderland and enjoy a game of croquet, just like Alice. Traditionally a lawn game, it can be just as much fun on the beach. You can buy a child-sized set, complete with mallets, balls and hoops, from most sports, leisure and toy stores.

Get active: Get the whole family involved in beach ball fun. Simply put up the net, or draw a line in the sand and pick sides. If you have little ones use an inflatable beach ball, which is lighter, easier and safer for them to hit.

Fun in the sand: Sand, sand everywhere and not a thing to do. Not true. You can make sandcastles, build your own sand city, draw out a hopscotch board or create a running track for races. Go on, let your imagination run wild.

Anyone for tennis? Always a hit (groan), show your competitive side and see how many times you can hit the ball back and forth without dropping it. Larger groups can split into teams and have a game of rounders - the more the merrier.

It's a whizz: Frisbee is a classic favourite for everyone in the family - even the dog! If you're feeling confident try freestyling - throw the frisbee under your leg or from behind your back. But a word of caution. Watch out for neighbouring sunbathers - you don't want to rudely awaken anyone from a nap.

Hunt for treasure: Let your kids turn detective for the day. Make a list of easy-to-find beach 'treasure' such as pebbles and shells - you can make it more difficult by specifying exact colours and shapes, or by making it a race to see who can find the treasure the fastest. Then all you have to do is sit back and watch them tiring themselves out, while you work on topping up your tan.

Go bowling: A game to keep the kids busy all day. Construct the pins from sand and use a ball to knock them flat. (It may take a while to rebuild the pins but at least you'll get full use out of those buckets and spades.) Or take the easy option and bring your own skittles!

Run in the sun: Plenty of choice here - from the traditional running race to a swimming race in the sea to an alternative egg and spoon race using a bat and ball. But be careful of cheaters using their Velcro mitts!

 

Once everyone has worked up an appetite, settle down in the shade to a perfect picnic. Keep things simple if you like: let everyone tear off their own hunks of crusty bread, spread with Garlic & Herb Philadelphia, and pop on a few tomatoes. And for dessert, try a 10-second cheesecake: Try spreading a little Philadelphia on a digestive biscuit and top with sliced strawberries. Or if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, why not give these fantastic Philly recipes a try - yum!

 

Bulgar Wheat Salad
Serves 6
Preparation time:  10 minutes
Cook time:  25 minutes

Ingredients:
225g Bulgar wheat
½ cucumber, skin removed and flesh diced finely
½ bunch spring onions, finely sliced
175g dried, ready to eat apricots, chopped
150g Philadelphia Extra Light
3 tbsp. skimmed milk
3-4 tbsp. chopped fresh mint

Place the bulgar wheat into a bowl and pour over enough boiling water to completely cover and allow the grains to swell (it may be necessary to add more water as the grains expand). Leave for 20-25 minutes.  Drain well in a sieve and place into a serving bowl.

Mix together the cucumber, onions and apricots.  Mix the Philly with the milk and mint.  Mix into the other ingredients to coat.

Nutritional Information (per serving)
Energy              942/224kj/kcal
Protein              8.8g
Carbohydrate      43.8g (of which Sugars 14.9g)
Fat                  2.1g (of which Saturated Fat 0.8g)

 

Sweet Chilli Pork Kebabs
Serves 4
Preparation time:  30 minutes
Cook time:  10 minutes

Ingredients:
450g lean pork loin, cut into 2.5cm squares
100g Philadelphia Extra light
1 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
1 tbsp. chopped coriander

To serve:
2 corn on the cob, cut into pieces
120g mixed salad leaves

Mix the Philly, soy sauce, chilli sauce and coriander in a bowl, add the pork cubes and marinade for 20-30 minutes (or ideally overnight).

Thread onto 4 large or 8 small skewers (if using wooden skewers soak for 20 minutes to avoid burning).

Cook on the BBQ for 7-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through.  Serve with barbequed corn on the cob and a mixed salad.

Nutritional Information (per serving)
Energy                763/182kj/kcal
Protein                27.5g
Carbohydrate       4.9g (of which Sugars 4.8g)
Fat                     5.8g (of which Saturates 2.4g)  

 

 

Strawberry Cheesecake Sundae
Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
4 digestives, crushed
150g strawberries, quartered
120g Philadelphia Light, softened
1 tbsp icing sugar, sieved
1 tsp vanilla extract

Fresh mint leaves, to garnish

 

Place crushed digestives into the bottom of small glasses or ramekins.  Tumble the fresh strawberries on top. Beat together the Philly, icing sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Spoon this mixture carefully over the strawberries. Garnish with small, fresh mint leaves and enjoy.

Nutritional Information (per serving)
Energy              673/146kj/kcal
Protein              3.7g
Carbohydrate      19.0gg (of which Sugars 10.7g)
Fat                  6.5g (of which Saturated Fat 3.6g)

 

For more recipes and tips on how to get inspired in the kitchen go to www.philadelphia.co.uk, or click here for your chance to win a break for two at a top cookery school.