Four stunning North East beaches have made it into the top 50 list of the best beaches in the UK. 

As the summer holidays loom, The Times has compiled the top 50 beaches in the whole of the UK after travelling just over 5,500 miles and 543 beaches overall, - and four in our region have made the list.

In the North East, the highest ranking was Beadnell Bay in Northumberland known for its outstanding views and seamlessly never-ending shore and golden sand.

Of Beadnell Bay, The Times wrote: "Beadnell’s beach offers shelter on an otherwise exposed coast. Backed by low dunes and protected by a hook of headland, the waters can be as flat as the Med here when neighbouring beaches are being thumped by the North Sea.

"Beadnell is also becoming quite the gastronomic hotspot, with upmarket dining and cocktails at the Beadnell Towers Hotel, locally caught fish at the Landing, Geoff’s Fish and Chips van near the village shop, and authentic Italian pizza from the BAE food truck in the beach car park."

The destination ranked in 21st place out of 50 and just beat Cayton Bay in North Yorkshire, in 22nd place.

Redcar Beach was next in 25th, a "town with history" according to The Times.

"Redcar is not only a town with history, soul and public art — look out for the colony of penguins waddling down the prom — but also an impressive stretch of immaculate sands running eight miles from Teesmouth, past the ruins of the steelworks and on via Marske to Saltburn," they said.

"Furthermore, there’s nowhere else on earth to try the Redcar Lemon Top: a tub of vanilla with a scoop of lemon sorbet."

Rose Sands in Northumberland was 26th and Bamburgh came in 27th place.

Taking the top spot nationally was The Towans in Hayle, Cornwall, followed by Woolacombe in Devon.

Of the winner, The Times wrote: "The Times and Sunday Times beach of the year is the wild three-miler known as the Towans in Hayle.

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"The 1,700-acre expanse is an unspoilt, undeveloped and largely unknown stretch of sand, rock, cliff and dune across the bay from the overcrowded St Ives.

"There are fantastic sunsets, water sports equipment rental and two excellent cafés (Cove Café and the Jam Pot Café). As for the important stuff: the Towans’ water quality is excellent, it’s dog-friendly and it’s clean.

"That’s why, after visiting 543 beaches this spring, I’ve declared it the UK’s best."?