peaceful

The UK is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but if you’re looking for a quieter spot to soak up the sun, these twin villages are hidden gems well worth a visit

When the sun makes an appearance across the UK, the nation boasts plenty of remarkable attractions, from beautiful white sandy shores kissed by sparkling waters to quaint cobblestone lanes and idyllic villages. The summer break provides the perfect opportunity to explore some of Britain’s most popular seaside towns and countryside escapes.

Whether you’re drawn to the enduring allure of the Cotswolds or the seaside appeal of places like Weymouth, Scarborough, St Ives or Whitby, one thing is certain – these well-loved destinations will be packed with visitors.

However, if you’d prefer to enjoy the splendour of the British Isles without wrestling through crowds of tourists and social media fans, there’s a secret gem in Cornwall that offers breathtaking views, tranquil shores and a completely peaceful environment.

Nestled on the South-east coastline, the twin villages of Cawsand and Kingsand have everything you could want for a fantastic staycation and more.

Located on the less busy Rame Peninsula, often called Cornwall’s ‘forgotten corner’, these delightful villages are officially recognised as areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

This pristine part of the country serves as a natural sanctuary that somehow avoids the summer throngs.

The scenic villages have maintained their peaceful atmosphere despite being encircled by bustling tourist hotspots. These delightful fishing settlements, with their winding lanes and sandy beaches, remain a well-kept secret away from the usual tourist trail.

And they’re steeped in heritage that encompasses the ancestral homes of Mount Edgcumbe, Port Eliot, and Antony House. Intriguingly, these two villages once formed part of different counties, renowned for their historic rivalry and as a refuge for smugglers.

Today, Cawsand Bay provides a sanctuary for families, walkers, swimmers, and kayakers, with its east-facing shingle-and-sand shore peppered with rock pools and inlets. Its sheltered waters make it a safe and stunning spot for all.

Tourists coming to enjoy the beaches are always close to authentic Cornish cuisine, with local pubs and shops just moments from the sandy expanse.

Kingsand, the adjacent village, is a concealed gem with cottage-lined lanes that rival the charm of Polperro and Port Isaac. Retaining much of its genuine character, Kingsand was formerly a flourishing fishing village, and traces of the old pilchard cellars and boat stores can still be discovered along the seafront.

This peaceful part of the peninsula, nestled beneath the coastal path, is a popular spot for walkers and birdwatchers, stretching all the way to the striking Rame Head, topped with a 14th-century chapel. Seafood lovers should make a beeline for the Devonport Inn in Kingsand, while The Bay Bar in Cawsand provides a peaceful setting for a drink, boasting a view that simply can’t be beaten.

The trip to these twin villages is a delightful experience in itself. As you wind your way for miles alongside sand and sea, the breathtaking views across Whitsand Bay offer a glimpse of the spectacular scenery that awaits.

A European hotel has been described as a ‘ghost town’ because there are no sunbed wars in the morning – all because of a genius solution they’ve come up with

Sunbed wars have become an almost unavoidable part of a holiday at a sunny resort, but guests at one hotel in Europe never have to worry about bagging a prime spot by the pool.

If you’ve ever stayed at a resort with a pool and rows of sun loungers, you’ll know all too well about the early morning scramble to secure a sunbed before heading off for breakfast. This frantic rush typically sees guests charging across the courtyard to toss their towel over a lounger, effectively claiming it for the entire day.

The trouble with sunbed wars, however, is that they not only encourage deeply selfish behaviour that denies fellow guests a fair chance at using the facilities, but they also pose a genuine safety risk, with people running poolside and potentially coming to blows over the best spots.

At one hotel in Cyprus, though, that early morning battle simply doesn’t exist – the resort appears positively “deserted” compared to other venues where daily poolside races are commonplace.

It’s not that the hotel is short of guests, however. The real explanation behind the refreshingly towel-free poolside scene each morning is that the resort has introduced a clever system designed to guarantee every guest a spot by the pool without any of the usual squabbling.

Mark Brown, also known as Right Guys Reviews, recently posted a TikTok video filmed at a hotel during his stay in Paphos, Cyprus. He panned his camera across the sunbeds surrounding a large pool, revealing that not a single one had a towel draped over it – despite it being morning and the majority of guests already seated at breakfast.

He was keen to point out that the pool wasn’t empty simply because the hotel was quiet, claiming it was actually fully booked. Rather, guests at this particular hotel simply have no need to scrap over a sunbed spot.

Mark said: “Honestly, you’d think this was a ghost hotel, and it was actually empty. But if you take a trip over to pool services, you’ll find out now why there’s no towels on the sun loungers.”

He went on to explain that upon checking in, guests are handed plastic “pool towel” exchange cards. Each morning, these are taken down to the pool services kiosk and swapped for towels to use on the sunbeds.

But there’s no mad dash once you’ve got your towel. At the pool services kiosk, guests are also assigned their sunbeds for the day, guaranteed to be theirs regardless, meaning there’s absolutely no need to squabble over the best spot.

Viewers who commented on Mark’s video were thoroughly impressed by the sunbed management system at the unnamed hotel. Many recalled their own battles over sunbeds in the early hours, with the vast majority saying they’d gladly swap the stress for a more relaxed, hotel-managed approach.

One holidaymaker said: “Just been to a five-star resort in Kos with no sunbed management. I had to get up at 6am every day just to secure two sunbeds for me and the wife.”

Another chimed in: “That’s the best way to do it. Booking policy is a brilliant idea.”

A third shared their own experience: “We went to Tenerife a couple of years ago and they allocated beds. It’s brilliant. So much better. You could book for am/pm or all day. Hate it when people put towels on at 7.30 and don’t turn up until 1pm.”

The Lee Jae Myung government has shifted its focus to a peaceful “two-state” coexistence with North Korea, rather than pressure and confrontation, the unification ministry’s white paper showed Monday, striking a markedly different tone from its predecessor.

The annual paper reflects the push by the Lee government, which took office in June last year, to repair the strained inter-Korean relationship based on building mutual trust.

The previous conservative Yoon Suk Yeol government sought to bring about change in North Korea through pressure and the influx of outside information.

The latest white paper laid out three key guiding principles: Seoul respects North Korea’s system, does not pursue unification by absorption and does not engage in hostile activities.

Built on these principles, the government has framed its overarching policy as one of “peaceful coexistence and mutual growth on the Korean Peninsula.”

In particular, regarding Pyongyang’s “two hostile states” policy, the document specified the ministry’s stance that highlights the need for a transition to a “peace-oriented two-state relationship” aimed at achieving unification.

At a year-end party meeting in December 2023, the North Korean leader declared inter-Korean relations as those between “two states hostile to each other” and has since pursued hostile policies toward Seoul.

“Considering the reality that the South and the North exist as two de facto states, we intend to develop inter-Korean relations into a relationship of peaceful coexistence while still aiming for unification,” the ministry said.

Critics said the ministry’s “peace-oriented two-state relationship” narrative runs counter to the long-held stance that inter-Korean ties are a “special relationship” tentatively formed in the process of seeking unification, not as state-to-state relations.

Among the measures cited is the Lee government’s decision to halt the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North Korea and stop loudspeaker broadcasts along the border as steps to ease military tension and rebuild trust.

The paper also outlines plans to revive the Sept. 19 inter-Korean military agreement, signed by former President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018, and pursue a bilateral accord to establish a systematic foundation for peaceful coexistence.

The shift in policy priorities is visible in the paper’s language. References to “peace” and “peaceful coexistence” surged to 196 from 29 and mentions of “meeting” or “dialogue” rose to 58 from 16.

By contrast, the section on North Korean human rights has been significantly scaled back. The term “North Korea’s human rights” dropped to 26 from 156, and “freedom” fell to three from 43. Mentions of “North Korean defectors” plummeted to just 10 from 203.

In a foreword message for the paper, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated, “Peace on the Korean Peninsula is not a choice for us, but a lifeline.”

“As we practice peace through actions rather than words, I hope that the South and the North can sit down together once again as neighbors peacefully coexisting with each other,” he added.

Despite Seoul’s olive branch, inter-Korean relations remain virtually frozen. There has been no inter-Korean human exchange in five years and no economic exchange whatsoever, the paper showed.

Pyongyang, meanwhile, has doubled down on its two-state policy, revising its constitution to remove all references to unification and cutting off remaining ties with Seoul.

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