St Andrews may be best known for its golf course – and the fact that Prince William and Kate Middleton met here as students – but its idyllic gold sand is also a draw. The seaside town has three main beaches. West Sands is the largest – spanning two miles (3.2km), it featured in the Oscar-winning film, Chariots of Fire. The north end is popular with kitesurfers and overlooks the Eden Estuary Nature Reserve, where you can spot birds, otters, dolphins and seals.

Check out beautiful images from the bird photographer of the year awards

The UK's prettiest seaside towns you need to see to believe