Pretty UK village with 'wild and beautiful' beach voted country's best

From Kielder to Corbridge, Northumberland has no shortage of pretty towns and villages perfect for UK . Another must-see in the north east is , a costal village known for being home to the country's 'best' beach.

Located in the heart of Northumberland, about an hour's drive from , Bamburgh is visited by thousands of people every year. Its famous castle, coastlines and walking trails make it a popular destination with tourists up and down the country.

But it's Bamburgh's beach that has attracted the most attention recently, with naming it the best in the UK for the fourth consecutive year back in the summer. To find the winner, the consumer champion website surveyed more than 4,700 people about their experiences of UK seaside towns in the last year.

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Respondents were asked for their opinions on a range of criteria, including the quality of the beaches, food and drink offerings, value for money and tourist attractions. Bamburgh came out on top, beating the likes of Portmeirion, Gwynedd and St Andrews, Fife.

Which? explained: “Beloved by visitors for its 'wild' and 'beautiful’ beach backed by its imposing castle, took first place in the consumer champion’s survey for the fourth consecutive year, achieving an impressive destination score of 86%.”

According to the survey, visitors to Bamburgh were impressed by the “magnificent” and “totally unspoiled” beach, as well as by the “dramatic” views of the castle. One such visitor described the beach as “probably the most impressive in the British Isles”, awarding the village a full five stars for its beach, seafront, scenery, tourist attractions and peace and quiet.

The beach aside, Bamburgh Castle is another popular attraction. Standing on a huge, 180-foot high basalt crag, the castle provides panoramic views of the coast and surrounding countryside, and makes for a dramatic backdrop to photos.

The castle often plays host to a variety of events, from ghost tours and dragon hunts to outdoor cinema screenings. And with the Armstrong family, the owners of Bamburgh Castle, being big dog lovers, the castle's grounds are dog-friendly, so all the family can make the most of this attraction.

If you're after even more history while in Bamburgh, the RNLI Grace Darling is a museum dedicated to Grace Horsley Darling. Known as Victorian Britain's greatest heroine, Grace famously participated in the rescue of nine men from a tragic shipwreck.

You can also go on guided tours to the final resting place of the bones of people from the 6th and 7th century at the Bamburgh Ossuary, which can be found in a crypt below St Aidan's church.

If you're feeling peckish while walking in Bamburgh, the village is home to a cluster of cafes, as well as restaurants serving seafood specials. And if you're a keen golfer, you may be interested to learn that Bamburgh Castle Golf Club is often referred to as one of Britain's most scenic golf courses, with views across the Farne Islands, Lindisfarne and the Cheviots.