The Best of British Beaches

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While some people love nothing more than packing up and jetting off on a plane to Ibiza, Kos or Gozo, for others there is something special about enjoying the beautiful coastline of home.

OK, you can’t guarantee wall to wall sunshine for a fortnight, you can be pretty sure you will some pretty spectacular sun, sea and sand on British soil.

We have had a look at some of the best locations around, and hope you might rethink the need to pack your passport when you next travel.

Cornwall
If you are looking for miles of golden sand, Watergate Bay near Newquay is the place to be. Cliff top walks, crabbing, bird spotting are all on the cards and with the Extreme Academy on the beach you might learn a thing or two about surfing while you are there.

Yorkshire
North Yorkshire has many beaches with Robin Hood’s Bay, Scarborough and Bridlington being some of the most well-known and loved. If you are looking to get off the beaten track then we would suggest trying Hunmanby for a gorgeous, flat, sandy beach that soaks up the sun and doesn’t get too crowded so is perfect for a quiet afternoon of ocean reflection.

Isle of Wight
With the festival goers gone, why not join the surf dudes on stunning Compton Bay this summer? This is a brilliant spot for unpacking the deck chairs and unwrapping sandwiches and watching the waves roll in and the gulls fly by. If you fancy a walk, try the Tennyson Trail which laces along the coastline and then stop off for an ice cream and beer to top off your very British day.

Wales
There are many, many incredible beaches in Wales but one of the very best, has to be the stunning Rhossili. Sitting on the Gower Peninsula, this is home to some BIG waves and powerful Atlantic swells, so it is more about surfing than swimming but if you can make it down the steep steps, we promise you that you are in for a treat and you might even spot a dolphin if you are really lucky.

Dorset
Yes, there is the traditional seaside paraphernalia, but Weymouth is also home to an outstanding three-mile beach that is well-known and well-loved and worth a visit to. Grab a picnic, blanket, fill a flask (or water bottle) and enjoy all the south coast has to offer, but remember the sun cream because even on windy days, those rays can be strong.

Sussex
For total beach beauty, you really have to go to West Wittering. While there are some visitor facilities, the white sand and blue sea are the main attraction of this beach. Pack up the car, take the inflatables and if you stay all day, you will get to enjoy a totally mesmerising sunset.

Devon
Our list wouldn’t be complete without a pick from Devon and we are going for the family friendly Bigbury-on-Sea. The shallow waters, rock pools and glorious sand, make it the perfect place for a bucket and spade kind of day. Pack your swimmers and if you are feeling brave, when the tide goes out you can paddle towards Burgh Island and stop at the Pilchard Inn for a much-needed snack stop.

Got a beach you love? Let us know where it is as we love to explore.

Team Pure-Beauty

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Soup To Nourish Your Body

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5 a day, Asian Broth, blender, blitz, body, boiling water, bowl, carrots, celery, crème fraîche, crush, delicious soup, dried red lentils, eating, enjoy, fat free, flask, fresh, fresh thyme leaves, fry, goodness, ground coriander, gym session, heat, humus, leeks, lime, lump free, made from scratch, Nourishing food, olive oil, oven, pan, peel, pitta, quick and easy recipe, red chilli, red pepper., Roast Sweet Potato Soup, satisfying, silky smooth soup, small chunks, smooth, spring onions, steaming, stir, supermarket, sweet potato, tablespoons, tinned, tomato purée, vegetable bouillon powder, vegetable stock, vegetables, warming soup, wholesome, winner, winter, Winter Vegetable Soup with Lentils

If you are looking for wholesome, nourishing food that will feed your body this winter, soups are a real winner.

Yes, you can buy tinned and fresh ones at the supermarket, but there is something really satisfying about serving up a steaming bowl of goodness you have made from scratch.

Asian Broth
If you are looking for a light lunch option, you can’t go wrong with this quick and easy recipe that serves four.

You will need:
3 cloves of garlic
One piece of ginger (around 5cm)
200 g of pak choi, choy sum and Chinese cabbage
2 spring onions
1 red chilli
2 star anise
800 ml of clear vegetable stock
1 lime
Soy sauce

To make:
Peel and crush the garlic, then peel and grate the ginger. Trim the greens and finely slice the spring onions and chilli then add to a saucepan together with the garlic, ginger and star anise.
Put the pan over a low heat, add the stock, then bring to the boil. Gently simmer for around half an hour, then finally add the vegetables and cook gently until they are slightly wilted but still give a little bit of crunch.
Serve with soy sauce and a little lime juice and enjoy the fragrant flavours.

Winter Vegetable Soup with Red Lentils
This is a great warming soup to enjoy with family and friends after a country walk but also makes a hearty dinner when served with pitta bread and humus.

You will need:

85g of dried red lentils
2 medium carrots, diced
2 leeks, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
2 tablespoons of tomato purée
1 tablespoon of fresh thyme leaves
3 cloves of garlic peeled and crushed
1 tablespoon of vegetable bouillon powder
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
Boiling water
Salt and pepper to taste

To make:
Add the lentils and vegetables to a pan together with the tomato purée, thyme, garlic, bouillon powder and coriander, then pour in one litre of boiling water and stir well. Cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
You can either eat this as a chunky soup, or blitz in a blender and enjoy a smoother meal.

Roast Sweet Potato Soup

This delicious soup is a packed with 2 of your 5 a day and is perfect for taking to work in a flask or eating after a gym session.

You will need:
500g of sweet potato, peeled and cut into small chunks
300g of carrots, peeled and diced
Olive oil
2 small red onions, peeled and finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon of vegetable bouillon powder
100ml of fat-free crème fraîche, plus extra to serve
Salt and pepper
Boiling water

To make:
Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 7 then drizzle the carrots and sweet potatoes with olive oil plus salt and pepper and cook for around half an hour.
Heat two large tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan and fry the onion until it is soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for several minutes then pour in the boiling water and vegetable bouillon powder and mix well and simmer for around ten minutes.
Take the roasted vegetables out of the oven and once cool, add to the pan mix and blend together until smooth and lump free.
Add the crème fraîche, reheat and enjoy.