The beach 'similar to Greece, Spain or Portugal' worth the drive from Greater Manchester

Now that spring is definitely here and sunnier days are upon us, thoughts naturally turn to a day at the beach. When the sun is shining there’s one beach a drive away from Greater Manchester which visitors have compared to those found in “Greece, France, Spain or Portugal”.

St Bees Beach in Cumbria is a mile-long stretch of beach where shingle gives way to golden sand. It’s overlooked by the red sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head - reminiscent of the red cliffs found in Portugal’s Algarve.

At the northern end of the beach is a promenade which extends towards the sandstone cliffs where you can enjoy a stunning coastal walk. The area is a haven for wildlife too, with an RSPB nature reserve at St Bees Head.

READ MORE: Five canal-side walks with scenic views in Greater Manchester

The beach marks the start (or end) of the Coast to Coast Walk while the Lake District National Park is just a stone’s throw away. With gorgeous views and unspoilt beauty, it’s easy to see why this beach has received excellent reviews on Tripadvisor.

One reviewer, from Appley Bridge, wrote: “Fantastic beach with endless sand and distant waves. Easily comparable to any beach I’ve been on in Greece, France, Spain or Portugal and on this hottest May Bank holiday it matched the temperatures (for at least a little while).”

Another review read: “Really beautiful sandy beach. Great walks, great views, miles of sand. Just lovely. Pub and ship just off the beach and not that busy either. A real gem.”

A third reviewer described the beach as “Cumbria’s finest”. They wrote: “A truly beautiful beach on some of England’s most stunning, but largely unknown coastline. It’s a large flat and fairly quiet sandy beach with ample car parking and some simple amenities -