This beautiful South Carolina beach was just named the most underrated in the U.S.
The boat tour company analyzed data from Google Maps, searching for terms like "secluded beaches," "hidden beaches" and "quiet beaches" with fewer than 100 reviews. The result is a list of America's best under-the-radar coastal gems. South Carolina shines as a hidden beach capital, with five beaches in the top 10, and the number one underrated beach in the country.
Topping the list is Vereen Memorial Park in Little River, SC. Just north of Myrtle Beach, this 115-acre spot isn't your typical sun-and-sand destination. With wooden boardwalks that wind through salt marshes, peaceful trails shaded by oaks and calm views of the Intracoastal Waterway, it's perfect for anyone craving peace and quiet.
Second place goes to Driftwood Beach at Edisto Island, also in SC. It's a surreal stretch where fallen trees bleach in the sun, tide pools fill with seashells and the crowds remain small. In third place is Gunnison Beach in Sandy Hook, NJ, a (quietly) clothing-optional favorite for those looking to get some sun without the tan lines.
South Carolina landed three more spots in BoatBooker's top 10, including Morris Island at number four, Station 22 at number nine and Edisto Beach State Park Campground at number 10. Many of these beaches are tucked inside protected parks, keeping them wild, quiet and refreshingly undeveloped.
California also holds its own with nine hidden gems on the list. Top among them are Torrey Pines City Beach in San Diego at number five, Dana Strands Beach at number seven, and Pirates Cove Beach at number eight. These local favorites offer gorgeous views without the tourist crowds.
This list proves that America's best beach days aren't always where the hotels and high-rises are. Sometimes they're tucked away off of the tourist radar. Check these out next time you're looking for a quiet day at the beach.
Most underrated beaches in the U.S.
Vereen Memorial Park: South Carolina
Driftwood Beach: South Carolina
Gunnison Beach: New Jersey
Morris Island: South Carolina
Torrey Pines City Beach: California
Caswell Beach: North Carolina
Dana Strands Beach: California
Pirates Cove Beach: California
Station 22 - Public Beach Access: South Carolina
Edisto Beach State Park Campground: South Carolina
Ocean Isle Beach: North Carolina
Salt Creek Beach: California
Gulf Shores Beach: Alabama
Beach Access #4 - Beach Circle: Texas
Cape Hatteras National Seashore: North Carolina
Kirby Beach: California
Funston Beach: California
Carolina Beach: North Carolina
Santa Ana River County Beach River Jetties: California
Coquina Beach: North Carolina
Little Corona Beach: California
Crissy Field South Beach: California
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Powys County Times
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- Powys County Times
Knighton woman in her 60s cycles Lands End to John O'Groats
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North Wales Live
2 days ago
- North Wales Live
10 best beaches in UK named — the top two are both in Wales
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Its breathtaking beauty, pristine golden sands and turquoise waters earned it the Blue Flag status, partly due to its secluded location, accessible only via a half-mile walk. Close by, Traeth Mwnt in neighbouring Ceredigion secured second place, thanks to its beautiful setting as a hidden cove with golden sands and potential for dolphin sightings, reports the Express. This Green Coast Award recipient also offers a scenic walk to the summit of Foel y Mwnt and the iconic Mwnt church overlooking the bay, providing unparalleled views. This year, Woolacombe Beach in Devon has been crowned the top beach in England, boasting rockpools, soft sands and excellent surfing conditions - a combination that earned it the title of World Surfing Reserve in 2022. Dunraven Bay, located in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, secured fourth place. Its cliffs and rugged coastline are a magnet for visitors with an interest in geology and fossil hunting. The rock formations, rich in fossils embedded within the shoreline rocks, date back millions of years. Trebarwith Beach on the Devon coast clinched the fifth spot. Its standout feature is Gull Rock, a large offshore rock formation, making it a favourite among photographers and surfers. The top 10 best beaches in the UK (2025) Barafundle Bay Beach – Pembrokeshire, Wales Traeth Mwnt – Ceredigion, Wales Woolacombe Beach – Devon, England Dunraven Bay – Glamorgan, Wales Trebarwith Beach – Devon, England Cuckmere Haven – East Sussex, England Man O'War Beach – Dorset, England Bigbury Beach – Devon, England Gullane Beach – East Lothian, Scotland Benone Beach – County Londonderry, Northern Ireland What the researchers said about the top 5 1. Barafundle Bay Beach, Pembrokeshire Google Maps Rating: 4.9 Number of Reviews: 1,668 "Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is one of the UK's most lauded beaches due to its unspoilt natural beauty. Owing to its access via a half-mile walk, the beach has remained relatively wild yet immaculate, featuring golden sands and turquoise waters. "As such, it's often hailed for offering 'Caribbean-esque' vistas. This Blue Flag beach has bagged multiple accolades, including the cleanest beach in the UK (2024), the Seaside Award (2019) for its high standards of cleanliness and facilities, and the Green Coast Award (2019) for its stunning natural environment and superior water quality. Barafundle Bay is indeed a family favourite!". 2. Traeth Mwnt, Ceredigion Google Maps Rating: 4.9 Number of Reviews: 722 Another gem from Wales, Traeth Mwnt is a delightful secluded cove famed for its golden beaches and the iconic Mwnt Church that overlooks the bay. Visitors can unwind in this sheltered cove or indulge in dolphin spotting - Mwnt is actually one of the top spots to see dolphins in the UK! For those who enjoy a good hike, a scenic walk to the summit of Foel y Mwnt offers panoramic views of Cardigan Bay. The beach has also bagged numerous accolades, including a Green Coast and Seaside Award. 3. Woolacombe Beach, Devon Google Maps Rating: 4.8 Number of Reviews: 32,006 Woolacombe Beach in Devon is England's highest-rated beach for 2025. With the quaint village of Woolacombe serving as a backdrop, this picturesque beach is celebrated for its cleanliness and family-friendly vibe. The beach boasts Blue Flag status and a stunning 3-mile stretch of coastline. Woolacombe beach is ideal for children to explore with its rock pools, soft sands, and regular lifeguard patrols. It's also a hot spot for surfing - its consistent waves earned it recognition as a World Surfing Reserve in 2022. 4. Dunraven Bay, Vale of Glamorgan Google Maps Rating: 4.8 Number of Reviews: 18,412 Dunraven Bay, situated in Glamorgan, is a paradise for fossil enthusiasts and photographers due to its distinctive geology and dramatic cliffs. Nestled on the Jurassic coast of South Wales, renowned for its limestone cliffs, this stunning bay boasts a wealth of fossils and intriguing rock pools to discover. Walkers can also savour the spectacular coastal views from paths above the bay that lead to the remnants of Dunraven Castle, a Grade II listed manor house that was torn down in 1963. 5. Trebarwith Strand Beach, Devon Google Maps Rating: 4.8 Number of Reviews: 1,666 Trebarwith Strand Beach, located in Devon, is a beautifully untamed beach characterised by unique rock formations. Although entirely covered at high tide, the beach morphs into a sandy sanctuary at low tide, with the ebbing tides unveiling vast stretches of golden sand, numerous rock pools, and fascinating caves to explore.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
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Top 10 beaches in UK revealed — numbers 1 and 2 are in same corner of country (not Devon or Cornwall)
The top-rated beaches in the UK have been ranked, as British holidaymakers and sunseekers on the hunt for the perfect staycation spot. The top 10 UK beaches for 2025 have been named, as many Brits search for a last-minute staycation. The study was conducted by holiday rental service Holidu, which analysed Google Maps user data for over 9,500 beaches, considering both ratings and reviews. The findings suggest that Wales could be an ideal choice for a seaside getaway, with the top two spots on the list located in this picturesque part of the UK. Barafundle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire clinched the top spot, its high ratings supported by numerous accolades, including the cleanest beach in the UK award (2024), the Seaside Award (2019) for its exceptional cleanliness and facilities, and the Green Coast Award (2019). This stunning beach is known for its pristine, golden sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters, earning its Blue Flag status partly due to its secluded location, accessible only by a half-mile walk. Close by, Traeth Mwnt (Mwnt beach) in neighbouring Ceredigion secured second place, thanks to its breathtaking location as a hidden cove boasting golden sands and potential dolphin sightings. This Green Coast Award recipient also offers a scenic walk to the summit of Foel y Mwnt and the iconic Mwnt church overlooking the bay, providing unparalleled views, reports the Express. Woolacombe Beach in Devon has claimed the title of England's top-rated beach this year, boasting rockpools, pristine sands, and excellent surfing conditions - credentials that secured its designation as a World Surfing Reserve in 2022. Dunraven Bay in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, secured fourth place, with its dramatic cliffs and wild coastline drawing visitors fascinated by geology and fossil hunting. The stone formations, featuring fossil-laden layers embedded within the coastal rocks, stretch back millions of years. Trebarwith Beach on the Devon shoreline nabbed fifth spot. Its standout feature is Gull Rock, an imposing rock structure positioned just off the coast, making it a magnet for photographers and surfers alike. But not a single beach in Cornwall made the top 10, with the likes of Pedn Vounder and Porthcurno missing out. The top 10 best beaches in the UK (2025) Barafundle Bay Beach – Pembrokeshire, Wales Traeth Mwnt – Ceredigion, Wales Woolacombe Beach – Devon, England Dunraven Bay – Glamorgan, Wales Trebarwith Beach – Devon, England Cuckmere Haven – East Sussex, England Man O'War Beach – Dorset, England Bigbury Beach – Devon, England Gullane Beach – East Lothian, Scotland Benone Beach – County Londonderry, Northern Ireland What the researchers said about the top 5 1. Barafundle Bay Beach, Pembrokeshire Google Maps Rating: 4.9 Number of Reviews: 1,668 "Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is one of the UK's most celebrated beaches due to its preserved natural beauty. Thanks to the fact it can only be accessed by a half-mile walk, the beach has remained relatively wild yet pristine, boasting golden sands and turquoise waters. "As a result, it's often praised as offering 'Caribbean-esque' views. This Blue Flag beach has won multiple awards, such as the cleanest beach in the UK (2024), the Seaside Award (2019) for its high standards of cleanliness and facilities, and the Green Coast Award (2019) for its beautiful natural environment and great water quality. Barafundle Bay is truly a family favourite!" 2. Traeth Mwnt, Ceredigion Google Maps Rating: 4.9 Number of Reviews: 722 Traeth Mwnt in Wales is a delightful hidden gem, famed for its golden sands and the iconic Mwnt Church that overlooks the bay. Visitors can unwind in this secluded cove or indulge in some dolphin spotting - Mwnt is actually one of the top spots to see dolphins in the UK! For those who enjoy a good hike, there's a picturesque trail leading to the summit of Foel y Mwnt, offering panoramic views of Cardigan Bay. The beach has also bagged numerous accolades, including a Green Coast and Seaside Award. 3. Woolacombe Beach, Devon Google Maps Rating: 4.8 Number of Reviews: 32,006 Woolacombe Beach in Devon is England's highest-rated beach for 2025. Nestled against the backdrop of the village of Woolacombe, this scenic beach is celebrated for its cleanliness and family-friendly vibe. The beach boasts Blue Flag status and a 3-mile stretch of breathtaking coastline. With its rock pools, soft sands, and regular lifeguard patrols, Woolacombe beach is an ideal playground for children. It's also a hot spot for surfers - its consistent waves earned it recognition as a World Surfing Reserve in 2022. 4. Dunraven Bay, Vale of Glamorgan Google Maps Rating: 4.8 Number of Reviews: 18,412 Dunraven Bay, nestled in Glamorgan, is a paradise for fossil enthusiasts and photographers due to its distinctive geology and striking cliffs. Situated on the Jurassic coast of South Wales, renowned for its limestone cliffs, this stunning bay boasts a wealth of fossils and intriguing rock pools to discover. Walkers can also savour awe-inspiring coastal strolls above the bay that guide them to the remnants of Dunraven Castle, a Grade II listed manor that was torn down in 1963. 5. Trebarwith Strand Beach, Devon Google Maps Rating: 4.8 Number of Reviews: 1,666 Trebarwith Strand Beach, located in Devon, is a beautifully untamed beach with unique rock formations. Although entirely covered during high tide, the beach morphs into a sandy sanctuary at low tide, with the ebbing tides unveiling extensive stretches of golden sand, numerous rock pools, and fascinating caves to explore. The beach also welcomes dogs throughout the year, making it a favourite spot for dog walkers. In fact, Trebarwith Strand Beach is so picturesque that it's featured in several films - from Saving Grace (2002) and Oscar and Lucinda (1997), to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (1996).
