'Hidden gem' beach with miles of golden sand is a 'must visit'

With summer just around the corner thoughts quickly turn to a day at the beach. There’s nothing better on a sunny day than heading to the seaside, going for a walk along the sand and having a paddle in the waves.

It can be tricky choosing a beach to visit, but there’s one which has been described as a “hidden gem” by visitors, thanks to the miles of golden sand it has to offer and its picturesque lighthouse. Fortunately it's less than a 90 minute drive from Greater Manchester, making it ideal for a day trip.

Located on the North Wales coast, Talacre Beach sits opposite the Wirral, across the River Dee. It features grass-topped sand dunes which give way to a vast expanse of sand with incredible views out to sea.

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The focal point of Talacre Beach is the beautiful Point of Ayr Lighthouse, which stands at 18m tall. At high tide it's surrounded by water, but at low tide you can walk right up to it - just be careful not to get stuck by the tide.

Fans of the TV show Skins may recognise the lighthouse from the final series of the drama, as it featured in an episode of the seventh series. The lighthouse dates back to 1776, although it was decommissioned in 1884.

It's reputedly haunted by the ghost of the old lighthouse keeper and people have reported sightings of a figure wearing old fashioned lighthouse keeper clothes in the glass dome. Perhaps even more of a reason not to get stranded.

Talacre Beach has an unspoilt, natural charm to it - don’t expect dozens of arcades or gift shops. Instead it’s a haven for wildlife and the area around the beach, including the dunes, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and home to