You could say my wanderlust to visit the best beaches began with this one. Anyone who has watched Danny Boyles film “The Beach”  featuring Leonardo Di Caprio will be familiar with the beach on Phi Phi Leh and it was a bit of a pilgrimage for me to finally get there. Surrounded by lush towering limestone cliffs rising dramatically from the Andaman Sea, Phi Phi Leh feels like stepping into another world. Its emerald lagoons and crystal-clear water reveal colourful marine life beneath the surface, making it an unforgettable place to swim and snorkel. Although it now attracts visitors from around the globe (and is a lot busier these days), the scenery remains every bit as spectacular as the photographs suggest. Few tropical islands combine such dramatic geology with such extraordinary shades of blue. Once I had visited this beach I wondered if it could be bettered….

Whilst on my Thailand travels, Phra Nang Beach still lives with me as one of the most beautiful coastal settings I’ve seen, where soft golden sand meets distinctive towering limestone cliffs draped in lush vegetation. Longtail boats bob gently in the turquoise water, adding to the iconic scenery that has become synonymous with Krabi. The surrounding cliffs create a sheltered, peaceful atmosphere and as the sun begins to set, the entire beach glows with warm golden light. It is an effortlessly beautiful place that perfectly captures the magic of southern Thailand and I’ll never forget the sunsets there.

Traigh Luskentyre beach on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides was the first proof to me that some of the world’s finest beaches can be found far from the tropics. Obviously the weather in these parts is quite changeable and colder, but when the sun is shining vast stretches of dazzling white sand contrast beautifully with remarkably clear turquoise water, while the rugged mountains beyond provide a spectacular backdrop. At low tide, the beach seems almost endless, revealing intricate sand patterns sculpted by the retreating sea. Even on a summer’s day it often feels wonderfully peaceful and uncrowded. It is one of Scotland’s greatest natural treasures.

Being a fella from North East England – the beach at Bamburgh holds a special place for me and I’ll visit quite often. With miles of golden sand stretching beneath the imposing silhouette of Bamburgh Castle, this is one of England’s most dramatic and historical beaches. The vast open shoreline creates an incredible sense of space, especially when the tide is out and reflections shimmer across the wet sand. Powerful North Sea waves, sweeping dunes and distant views towards the Farne Islands make every visit feel different. Whether walking on it in summer or beneath stormy skies, the landscape is endlessly photogenic, but it is sunrise when I think it’s at it’s most spectacular. Few beaches combine history and natural beauty so effortlessly.

This is one of the most remote beaches I’ve visited which is in the Scottish Inner Hebrides and is a real hidden gem, a rare thing these days, hence I’m reluctant to share it’s exact location on my website which gets thousands of visitors a day other than to say it’s on a small tidal island that can only be walked to when the tide is out. It looks like it belongs in another part of the world but is in Scotland with astonishing white sand, glowing almost brilliantly against the vivid turquoise sea. Smooth pink granite outcrops frame the shoreline, creating beautiful natural contrasts. I wild camped here, didn’t see a soul around these parts at all and falling asleep to nothing but the sound of gentle waves and waking to an empty beach bathed in early morning light. It’s complete isolation made the experience even more memorable, with no other peeople in sight. It remains the most peaceful beaches I have ever visited.

Again I can’t share the location here due to a promise to a local man who came here on a small rowing boat who asked for me not to share this location to keep it quiet and untouched. The first thing that catches your eye here is the incredible colour of the water, shimmering in shades of turquoise that seem almost impossible this far north. A sweeping arc of pale sand curves around the small bay, bordered by rugged rocky headlands and untouched countryside. Despite its remarkable beauty, it retains a wonderful sense of solitude that makes a visit feel like a personal discovery. The peaceful atmosphere of this beach invites you to slow down and simply appreciate the landscape, and another really quiet beach that left a lasting impression.

This beach was another kind of pilgrimage as it featured in plenty of covers of travel brochures as I was growing up and I always wondered where it was – eventually I found my way here. Hidden beneath towering white limestone cliffs, Shipwreck Beach is one of the Mediterranean’s most recognisable coastal landmarks. The rusting ship resting on the brilliant white bay creates a striking contrast against the impossibly blue Ionian Sea. Reaching the beach by boat only adds to the excitement, revealing breathtaking views as you round the headland. But the best way to see it is from above on the dramatic cliffs, the height of which is astounding and when you peer over the edge and the beach reveals itself it literally takes your breath away. It’s certainly one of the most awe-some and spectacular places I have visited. It is every bit as spectacular in person as its reputation suggests.

I once seen a photo of this beach I thought it looked amazing – ticking all the boxes I like in a beach: untouched, white sands, turquoise waters, dramatci cliffs and lush greenery (seeing a photo and then figuring out how to get there is usually how it goes). So I had to visit and on a holiday to Menorca I got that chance. Tucked away between pine-covered cliffs, Cala Mitjana offers a perfect blend of tranquillity and natural beauty. Its soft white sand slopes gently into crystal-clear turquoise water, creating ideal conditions for swimming and snorkelling. The surrounding limestone cliffs shelter the cove from the wind, giving it an intimate and peaceful atmosphere. A short woodland walk adds to the sense of discovery before the beach suddenly appears below. It is one of Menorca’s most idyllic hidden gems.

Small, secluded, untoched and in a nature reserve and almost impossibly beautiful, Cala Macarelleta is one of the most stunning coves anywhere in the Mediterranean. Brilliant white sand meets luminous turquoise water so clear that boats appear to float in mid-air. Framed by pine forests and limestone cliffs, the cove feels wonderfully enclosed and protected. Arriving on foot along the coastal path makes the first view even more rewarding. It is a beach that perfectly captures the relaxed, unspoilt character that makes Menorca so special. I first visited this beach at sunrise, settting my alarm at 6am to make the short 3km walk to it and had the place to myself. It felt like paradise and the memory of that slow morning sat on the beach and taking a swim in flat, warm clear waters will stay with me forever. It wasn’t just the sheer beauty of the beach that stood out for me, it was the unforgettable experience too, being completley absorbed in the moment and at peace.

Last but certainly not least is my local beach, Crimdon Beach on the County Durham coast. It’s the beach I know more than any other and the one I return to time and time again for my local beach walks so it has to be on my list. Crimdon remains a wonderfully unspoilt stretch of coastline, with sandy shores, limestone cliffs, rolling dunes and a real sense of peace and escape. It’s at its very best on a summer morning as the sun rises over the North Sea, or in the evening when the coastline is bathed in the warm colours of sunset. Including my local beach is also a reminder that we don’t always have to travel halfway around the world to find somewhere special. Sometimes the places we overlook the most are right on our doorstep, waiting to be appreciated.