THERE’S no better feeling than sipping a glass of sangria under the blazing sun, while relaxing on the Spanish coastline.
Except this time, I was paying in pounds in and I’d taken a train instead of a plane to get there.
Because I was on the Sunshine Coast of Essex, which is often compared to Spain thanks to it being one of the sunniest, driest spots in the country.
According to the annual Which? seaside towns survey, August average highs are 21C, while water temperatures are 18C.
Even rainfall is low, with just 45mm in Frinton-on-Sea.
So I headed to the Essex Sunshine Coast for an Easter getaway to see how this unsung seaside staycay compares to its continental cousin.
Read more on seaside towns
I’ll be honest, I had no idea that England had its own version of the Costa del Sol until recently, although has been dubbed this for at least a quarter of a century.
Other than the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and East Devon, we don’t seem to have many named coastlines in this country, unlike places like Portugal, where every bit of seafront has an exotic name.
And if I’d taken a guess at where in the country the Sunshine Coast might be, I’d probably have gone for a much-touted tourist hotspot like Cornwall or Norfolk rather than this coastal corner not far from the capital.
But with new staycay stats showing that foreign trips are off the cards for many of us this year, holidaymakers looking to swap sangria for sticks of rock might actually be wowed by just what is on offer.
We visited on the warmest week of the year so far and temperatures here hit 22C, with blazing sunshine for most of our stay, so the area really did live up to its name for us.
But what I really loved about exploring the Essex seaside is the sheer variety of experiences on one relatively small stretch of coast, bookended by Brightlingsea in the south and Harwich in the north.
If you drove direct between the two, it would only take half an hour, although following the meandering coastline obviously increases the distance.
So it’s pretty impressive that you can find something for all staycay styles here, whether you prefer caravan parks with full-on family fun, charming cottages set by quiet beaches in calm countryside or hotels and a bit of history and heritage.
Some stretches feel like going back in time to seaside holidays of the past.
My husband spent his childhood summers staying in a caravan at Walton-on-the-Naze, renowned for its rows of colourful beach huts that have been here for more than a century.
Watching our boys exploring the shallow slope of Eastcliff Beach, not much seems to have changed over the years, with visitors still combing the sand for the prehistoric shark teeth that have always been found in abundance here.
Frinton, just a few miles away, is another timeless coastal classic, with its sleepy air of seaside chic.
A couple of years ago, we stayed at Haven Orchards on Point Clear, where you can catch a ferry for the three-minute trip across the harbour to Brightlingsea.
Some other UK seaside town holidays…
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Sidmouth, Devon
Take a trip to Sidmouth on the Jurassic Coast and wander down Jacob’s Ladder to its pretty shingle beach. Make sure to walk along the promenade and check out the independent shops and boutiques. Stay at the four-star Harbour Hotel for sea views and traditional afternoon tea from £135 per room.
Whitby, North Yorkshire
With a history of sailors and vampires, a dramatic coastal path, and the very best in pints and scampi, it takes a lot to beat Whitby. Pop in the amusements, eat award-winning fish and chips, and board the all-singing Captain Cook boat tour on the harbour. The Royal Hotel overlooks the harbour with stays from just £68 per room.
Old Hunstanton, Norfolk
This town has some of the best beach walks beside striped limestone cliffs, a Victorian lighthouse and 13th century ruins. The beach has golden sands with rolling dunes and colourful beach huts, backed by a pretty pinewood forest. Stay at a beachfront hotel from £100 per room.
Seahouses, Northumberland
This is an authentic British seaside break, with fishing boats bobbing on its pretty harbour and fresh catches of the day to enjoy in local restaurants. There’s no flashing arcades here, but there’s a great beach with rockpools, boat trips, and you may even spot a grey seal, too. Treat yourself to a stay at the Bamburgh Castle Inn from £129 per room.
Even though we were surrounded by caravans and chalets, walking on the shingly shoreline felt like we were miles away from the madding crowds.
We even stumbled across the hidden gem that is the East Essex Aviation Museum, chock-a-block with airplane artefacts, inside one of the Napoleonic martello towers, a circular coastal defence that is a feature of this area.
Of course, you’ve always got the hustle and bustle of Clacton if you want a bit more of a kiss-me-quick vibe with its pier packed with rides and attractions.
Plus it’s incredibly easy to get to – trains from London’s Liverpool Street station to Clacton-on-Sea take from 1 hour 26 minutes, with one-way advance tickets available from £12.60
But there’s so much more to the Sunshine Coast than the Costa del Clacton.
We’ve still got the two towns that mark either end of this coastline to explore on our next visit – Brightlingsea has a lovely lido run by volunteers, while Harwich offers seal-spotting trips from its charming Ha’penny Pier.
There’s lots of ideas of where to visit at essex-sunshine-coast.org.uk
Ironically, for a county made famous in The Only Way is Essex for being a bit brash and loud, I found the best bits of the Sunshine Coast are a little bit understated, like the Naze tower and nature reserve near Walton.
If you’re after an unsung spot for your summer staycay, you really can’t go wrong with catching the rays at the Naze and making the most of our very own Sunshine Coast.