Sand

WHEN it comes to a real-life paradise, the closest you’ll probably get to it is the Caribbean.

And there’s one destination that’s seeing more tourists than ever which is developing new hotels so visitors can enjoy the hot weather and beautiful beaches.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Caribbean with 17.3 percent more visitors in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Jamaica and Barbados are the Caribbean islands most visited by Brits – but St Vincent and the Grenadines has the potential to be your next holiday spot.

You can get there by flying to Argyle International Airport on St Vincent – and then, from there you can explore the 32 islands and cays.

The country’s capital is Kingstown in St Vincent, where visitors explore historical sites like Fort Charlotte and the Gothic cathedrals.

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The capital has Botanical Gardens, waterfalls, and plenty of opportunities to try out water activities like boat tours, snorkelling, and diving.

The waters have plenty of marine life like whales, dolphins, green sea turtles and lots of reef fish.

Of course being an island, St Vincent has some incredible beaches from Indian Bay, Villa Beach and Mt. Wynne Beach – which has volcanic black sand.

St Vincent is home to the country’s largest volcano called La Soufrière.

It’s active too, with the last explosive events happening in 2021.

The island has rainforests as well and visitors can hike through the Vermont Nature Trail and the Cumberland Forest Reserve.

The island country is a great for fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise which was filmed across its beaches and rainforest.

It was even rumoured that St Vincent would open a theme park to honour the films.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the best spots for winter sun, as throughout the whole year the temperature averages between 24-27C.

The rainy season runs from June through November, with the wettest months typically being October and November.

The island country consists of eight other inhabited islands; Young Island, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Union Island, Mayreau, Petit St Vincent and Palm Island.

To get to the other most popular islands, visitors can use ferries or take regional flights.

Here you’ll find white-sand beaches and plenty more swimming spots in the bright blue Caribbean sea.

To accommodate the increasing number of visitors in St Vincent and the Grenadines, there are four new projects across the islands and all are set to open by 2027.

The first is called Peter’s Hope Resort Development Project, which is a 280-room beachfront Marriott Autograph Collection hotel.

Another is the Beaches St. Vincent and the Grenadines which will be a 360-room resort focusing on families that will be built at Mt. Wynne.

The Palm Island Development is a new project with phase one scheduled to open in December 2026.

And the Cumberland Bay Resort Development Project will be a 150-room beachfront resort set to have pretty overwater bungalows, cottages, a hotel and small marina. 

Virgin Atlantic connects St. Vincent with a stopover at the neighbouring island of Barbados taking around 11 hours.

You can fly from London Heathrow to St Vincent with return fares from £574.92.

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This island in St Vincent and the Grenadines is known as ‘turtle island’…

CANOUAN sits between St Vincent and Grenada, and it’s one of the smallest measuring at three square miles and has a population of around 2,000.

Known for its abundance of turtles, tortoises and beautiful beaches, the little-known island doesn’t get many tourists, which means it’s a hotspot for celebs.

Thanks to it being lesser-known, the island of Canouan has been known to be a popular Caribbean spot for celebrities.

Due to its privacy, the likes of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr., and Cindy Crawford have all been seen there.

Another reason for its popularity amongst the famous is the amount of luxury resorts there – and the fact that they all allow use of the ‘invisible key’, which means you can use facilities across all of them.

The island is known for being peaceful and quiet, but is rising in popularity amongst travellers.

It has a nickname too, Canouan is sometimes referred to as ‘Turtle Island’.

As you might have guessed this is because the island is a natural sanctuary for green sea turtles which swim off the coast.

During the months of May and October, the turtles hatch along the beach, so if you stick around until dawn, you might spot tiny hatchlings make their way from the sand to the sea.

Here’s another Caribbean island that only a few thousand Brits visit is getting a new airport – with UK flights.

Plus, Caribbean’s safest island is ‘back on map’ as 2025 holiday spot – thanks to stunning beaches and region’s longest pool.

The outdoor enthusiasts at Millets have compiled a list of the UK’s best free hidden gems, based on ratings on TripAdvisor and Google, and the results are in

England is brimming with hidden treasures, from quaint, untouched coves in Cornwall to breathtaking woodland strolls in Lancashire. Embleton Bay, a beach tucked away in the north of England, has been crowned the country’s top free hidden gem.

This pristine and dramatic beach in Northumberland has won the hearts of visitors from far and wide. The outdoor experts at Millets have curated a list of England’s top free hidden gems, based on TripAdvisor and Google ratings, with this stunning beach clinching the top spot.

Porth Joke in Cornwall, another beautiful and untouched beach, came in second, while Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean secured third place.

The top pick of Embleton Bay is an unspoilt stretch of coastline, flanked by low dunes and overseen by the imposing ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. It’s also a stone’s throw away from the historic town of Embleton, which boasts the UK’s largest village hall.

Dunstanburgh Castle, whose remnants are visible from the beach, was erected in the 1300s by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, a cousin and adversary of Edward II. By the late 1800s, the castle had deteriorated into ruins, and the remains of Dunstanburgh became a favourite subject for artists and poets.

And it’s not just the outdoor specialists at Millets who rave about Embleton. One visitor took to TripAdvisor to write: “Beautiful, quiet dog friendly beach with great views. A castle at one end of the bay and a pub at the far end up at Low Newton By The Sea.

“Embleton Beach is pretty amazing. We were lucky enough to be staying in a cottage overlooking the bay and walked the dog on the sands every morning, often with nobody else in sight!”.

Meanwhile, another visitor gushed: “Embleton bay is a hidden gem on the Northumberland coast. The beach is powdery white sand and the sea is clear and safe for bathing. Dunstanburgh castle makes a dramatic backdrop and it is a pleasant walk along the coast to Craster.”

A third raved: “Beautiful beach and coastline. Water very clear, and looked clean. Great views of Dunstanburgh Castle, sandy and rocks, great for dogs and children.”

One more holidaymaker remarked: “This is a delightful and peaceful beach with wonderful views of the nearby castle. Wonderful to watch the birdlife. It is very peaceful and calming, but unfortunately that depends on how many dogs are around at the time.”

Revealing the findings of their study into England’s finest free hidden treasures, Millets blog writer Sam Chadwick explained: “The UK is full of beautiful locations, and in recent years, more people have discovered the benefits of spending time outdoors. We have collated our ultimate hidden gems list, revealing the highest rated hidden gems that are completely free to enjoy.”

England’s best free hidden gems:

1. Embleton Bay, Northumberland
2. Porth Joke, Cornwall
3. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
4. Kingley Vale, West Sussex
5. Portheras Cove, Cornwall
6. Barricane Beach, Devon
7. Norsey Wood, Essex
8. Lantic Bay, Cornwall
9. Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
10. Warburg Nature Reserve, Oxfordshire
11. Covehithe Beach, Suffolk
12. Cardinham Woods, Cornwall
13. Box Hill, Surrey
14. Heartwood Forest, Hertfordshire

When you live in a town where the ocean is just around the corner, it feels almost wrong to spend a sunny day anywhere but the beach. As a lifelong Santa Barbara resident, my favorite way to savor those golden afternoons is by doing exactly that: toes in the sand, waves crashing at my feet, a turkey sandwich in one hand and an Agatha Christie novel in the other. Honestly, does it get much better?

I’m here to tell you it does. Santa Barbara is a place of dual delights. And while the coastline tends to steal the spotlight, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also shine some light on the other side of town that visitors often overlook. Because here, we’re not just flanked by sea; we’re also cradled by mountains, which means that in under 20 minutes, you can go from your beach towel to hitting the trail.

That unique geography is what makes our mountains stand out. Unlike most of California’s coastline, where mountain ranges tend to stretch north to south, the Santa Ynez Mountains run east to west. This rare alignment creates dramatic, side-by-side views of both the Pacific Ocean and the mountains — especially breathtaking from higher elevations during sunrise or sunset.

And if that doesn’t convince you to trade your beach nap for an uphill trek — and you happen to be a nature enthusiast — know that Santa Barbara is one of the most biodiverse regions in the state, boasting a variety of breathtaking flora and fauna. Take the Matilija poppy, for example: visually striking and curiously reminiscent of a cracked egg. Or consider the California scrub jay, whose vibrant cobalt feathers never fail to turn heads.

While it’s hardly a novel take, I’ve always believed that the best way to explore a place is by immersing yourself in its terrain. Sure, the beach is tempting, and I don’t blame anyone for choosing the comfort of the sand over a sweaty excursion. But as someone who’s hiked every trail on this list, I urge you to give the mountains a chance — if not for the stunning views, then for the adventure.

Kristen Nuss was covered in sand, dulling her neon two-piece swimsuit. A white lei hung around her neck as she attempted to balance her champion’s plaque awkwardly in one hand.

“This thing is heavy,” she said, “my arm is getting sore.”

Despite her and partner Taryn Brasher repeating as AVP Manhattan Beach Open champions — grinding out a 15-21, 21-18, 15-13 victory over former USC standouts Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon — on Sunday, the weight of both the hardware and the title wasn’t lost on Nuss.

“This is Wimbledon,” Nuss said. “It’s the granddaddy of them all. My mom always said she wanted me to play at Wimbledon. … This is definitely one of the most coveted trophies right here.”

Partners since 2021, Nuss and Brasher were greeted with a roar before the first serve. On the other side of the net, Kraft and Cannon seemed to be the underdogs to the Paris Olympians.

But as the former Trojan duo snatched the opening set, fans pressed shoulder to shoulder along the railings and bleachers, pulled into the possibility of a rally from the defending title-holders.

Kraft’s heavy serve and Cannon’s long reach at the net gave them the first game at 21-15. During the changeover between games, Brasher and Nuss zeroed in on the cracks by serving together and passing cleaner.

“We don’t like first sets,” Nuss joked. “That is something we’ve learned this year especially … we should just not play the first set. But we know we can battle back no matter what.”

Kristen Nuss dives for a ball during the women’s championship match at the Manhattan Beach Open on Sunday.

(Katelyn Mulcahy / For The Times)

Down three points in the second set, Nuss and Brasher rallied and took a 21-18 win. And in the third set, with the teams even at five, Nuss — the smallest player on the sand — swung above her size, disguising her shots by glancing one way and spiking the ball the other.

“There is nothing — no deficit — that is going to scare Kristen,” Brasher said.

Under the scorching Manhattan Beach sun, fans stayed jammed along the railings. But the second final would not follow the same fairytale ending.

For Phil Dalhausser and Trevor Crabb, this year’s Manhattan Beach Open doubled as both a curtain call and a chance to win a title.

Miles Evans, left, and Chase Budinger celebrate after winning the Manhattan Beach Open men’s title Sunday.

(Katelyn Mulcahy/For The Times)

For the former, it was the final time he’d ever tower over California sand — a four-time Olympian, International Volleyball Hall of Famer and seven-time Manhattan Beach Open champion competing in the second-to-last AVP event of his career. Crabb entered the weekend looking to win the tournament for the second straight year.

But Chase Budinger and Miles Evans had other plans, racing through the final and burying the storybook ending 21-19, 21-16 to clinch the men’s title.

Budinger and Evans tipped their caps to Dalhausser — recognizing the veteran who is a legend in the sport.

“[Dalhausser] is the best player to ever play the game,” Budinger said. “So every time I step on the court playing against him, I really try to cherish those times with him — those memories, those battles — because he’s such an unbelievable player.”

Dripping in champagne and holding his plaque, Evans said the triumph was validation for all the work the duo has put in to break through since pairing up in 2023.

“Hopefully this is the beginning of great things for us,” he said.

It has been named the best beach in the world for those looking to enjoy the warm weather and relax on the white sands, according to a new study

Many Brits love to escape the dreary weather for a day by the sea. Perhaps it’s the golden sand, crystal clear water or simply the warmer climate that draws you in. Well, Luxury holiday company CV Villas has conducted research to find out which beaches boast the whitest sand in the world. Let’s be honest, nothing screams ‘perfect beach’ more than pristine white sand.

The study analysed Google Maps images of approximately 200 beaches, examining the colour of each shoreline to determine the results. Unsurprisingly, the beach with the whitest sand is nowhere near the UK, but it’s certainly worth the flight time, reports the Express.

Tulum Beach in Mexico was crowned as having the whitest sand in the world, as it had the least deviation from pure white.

Tulum Beach sits on the Yucatan coast of Mexico at the country’s southeastern tip, looking out to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Tulum is a huge tourist destination known for its beaches and well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city.

The main building is a large stone structure called El Castillo which sits atop a rocky cliff looking down across the white sand beach and turquoise sea.

Given its tourist draw, there are plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars situated throughout the long narrow stretch of town.

However, some visitors on Tripadvisor do note that prices can be high for amenities such as parking.

Having visited in July 2024, an American tourist left a Tripadvisor review saying the area had both “good and bad” points. They described the beach, however, as a “paradise”.

Coming in second place was Anse Source D’Argent in the Seychelles, which had a variation of 4.3, and Marmari Beach in Greece took third place with a variation of 6.5.

Here are the top 20 beaches with the whitest sand:

1. Tulum Beach, Mexico

2. Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles

3. Marmari Beach, Greece

4. Tropea Beach, Italy and Platja de Muro, Spain

6. Cala Pluma, Spain

7. Plage de Valras, France

8. Cala Brandinchi, Italy

9. Stocking Island Beach, Bahamas and Taylor Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos

11. Varadero Beach, Cuba

12. Punta Prosciutto, Italy

13. Maya Bay Beach, Thailand

14. Carmel Beach, USA

15. Bamboo Island Beach, Thailand

16. Siesta Key Beach, USA

17. Spiaggia La Pelosa, Italy

18. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico and Luskentyre Beach, Scotland

20. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Eight of the top 10 destinations are in Europe.

If you’re after a beach closer to home, Scotland’s Luskentyre Beach shares the eighteenth spot with Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico.

Margate is known for its sandy beaches and charming seaside attractions – but it’s also a hotspot for celebrities and has one of the UK’s ‘coolest’ neighbourhoods

If you’re on the hunt for the perfect weekend getaway, then Margate is a hidden gem that ticks all the boxes. With its stunning beach, vibrant atmosphere, top-notch eateries and refreshing sea breeze, it’s an ideal spot for families or couples seeking a romantic mini-break.

While Margate has long been recognised as a seaside retreat, the town of today offers so much more. It’s home to a remarkable food scene and a bustling arts community. But fear not – while embracing modern trends, Margate hasn’t lost its classic coastal charm. Nowadays, it manages to blend being trendy and artistic with maintaining a traditional British holiday feel.

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And we can’t forget about Margate Main Sands – boasting some of the softest, golden sands spread across 19 miles of breathtaking Kentish coastline. The town’s Cliftonville district has been dubbed one of the ‘coolest’ in the UK, and TimeOut has listed the town among the top places to visit.

It’s no surprise that Margate has become a hotspot for celebrities and Londoners, leading to a boom in property prices. Keep your eyes peeled and you might spot famous faces such as Lilly Allen, Sam Mendes, Olivia Coleman, and even some cast members from EastEnders.

For unique sights, Margate is the destination, with standout attractions including the Margate Museum, the quirky Crab Museum, the enchanting Shell Grotto, and the underground wonders of Margate Caves.

Margate Old Town serves as a charming centre for boutique museums and a diverse collection of shops ranging from vintage to contemporary. Staying true to its heritage as a coastal resort, Margate offers all the classic seaside attractions: plenty of fish and chip establishments, ice cream vendors dotting the seafront, beachside pubs, and opportunities for mini golf.

Dreamland, merely a brief stroll from the shore, stands as the retro theme park cherished by families. It boasts classic funfair attractions, stages musical performances, and houses the Scenic Railway – Britain’s most ancient wooden rollercoaster.

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For visitors wanting fish and chips following a beach day, Peter’s Fish Factory at 12 Royal York Mansions in Margate comes highly praised. Yet for those desiring a more upmarket meal, Margate also shines with venues like Angela’s and Bottega Caruso, plus emerging favourites including Sargasso and Fort Road Hotel.

Selecting standouts proves challenging, yet Sargasso distinguishes itself with its stunning ocean panoramas and recently earned recognition in SquareMeal’s Top 100 UK restaurants for 2023, a compilation highlighting the “highest calibre of restaurants” across the country.

Alternatively, you might be drawn to the authentic Italian atmosphere at Bottega Caruso, where you can not only relish cuisine from the proprietor’s native Italian village, but also buy fresh pasta, house-made tomato sauce, and other Italian delicacies. They also run pasta-making classes and organise Supper Club nights for a taste of Italy in Britain, reports Cambridgeshire Live.

Those seeking a cultural adventure should make the Turner Contemporary gallery a priority, featuring diverse art exhibitions that rival London’s cultural scene. Guests can join guided tours and activities or unwind in the café whilst taking in harbour vistas.

If you’re planning a weekend getaway, don’t miss Margate’s spectacular four-acre tidal pool, located just 1.4 miles from Margate Main Sands. The Walpole Bay Tidal Pool, beloved by swimmers and families year-round, is Britain’s largest and also boasts “fresh water springs rising from the beach” within its boundaries.

It’s an ideal spot to soak up the sea air and enjoy a dip or simply lounge beside the water.

Want to go to the Caribbean this summer but lack the budget? Turns out, there’s an island much closer to home that offers similar views without the long-haul flight

If you’re on the hunt for an idyllic spot to visit this summer without breaking the bank on flights, travel expert Chris Lawlor suggests a hidden gem right off the coast of the UK he claims rivals much more exotic locations. “Did you know that in Scotland you can visit a tiny island that looks like the Caribbean with a white sandy beach and turquoise waters?” he began in a TikTok video, showcasing the stunning destination.

The entire island is “explorable on foot”, according to Chris, who ventured inland during his visit, as he detailed other activities life on the island benefits from. First, he visited a nearby “sacred abbey” offering coastal “tranquillity,” and highlighted the “many other treasures” discovered along his walk. What’s more, it’s only a 10-minute boat ride from the Isle of Mull.

In his clip, Chris recommended “soaking in the views” at Ailidh – a quaint coastal pizza takeaway that also serves local seafood and sweet treats.

“Remember to respect this wee island called Iona,” he concluded.

“I’ve spent so much time in Scotland over the years, but completely missed this gem,” one TikTok user confessed in response. “Thanks for sharing.”

Another person reminisced: “Visited here with family when I was about 11 I never forget this place because of how clear the water was looking over the side of the boat and seeing hundreds of little jellyfish fish.”

A third gushed: “One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited.”

Whilst a fourth shared their experience of the island, adding: “I was lucky enough to visit Iona during my time in Scotland. I stumbled upon an art store and bought a beautiful glass dish. Even on a cold, cloudy day it’s beautiful.”

The island’s official tourism website states online: “Iona, with its beauty and white sand beaches, has a time and place for everyone. From Dunbhuirg, the Iron Age fort, to the Marble Quarry, worked even in the 20th Century; from St Columba’s Bay in the south, to the White Strand of the Monks in the north, many places have their stories to tell.”

It further highlights that Iona’s wealth of activities include golf, fishing, shopping and dining out experiences and of course, its walks.

“The joy of Iona is that everything on the island is happily reached on foot,” Welcome to Iona continues.

“And though relatively small, the island has a wide variety of places to enjoy from the beautiful beaches that surround Iona to the high point of Dun I which affords dramatic views of the surrounding islands.”

When it comes to dining, there are two hotel restaurants that offer meals throughout the day, and there is the Iona Heritage Centre Garden Café that offers light snacks and soups from late morning until late afternoon.

“Each location has its own unique ambiance and style, and of course during the summer months they all be very busy,” the website adds. “Hence, reservations are recommended – and are often essential for large parties.”

The ‘beautiful’ cove has been described as a ‘hidden gem’ and the ‘perfect escape’ from tourist traps

A “hidden gem” beach has been hailed as the “perfect escape”. The “magical little cove” in West Cornwall is loved for its “beautiful turquoise water and white sand.” Reviewers have described Nanjizal Beach as “very scenic,” praising the “breathtaking” views and the “unusually clear” water.

For locals, the beauty of this spot is no secret, but for those living further inland, the beach could offer a welcome respite from the usual tourist hotspots. The remote location means it’s only accessible on foot, with rocks and boulders to navigate along the way.

It’s also crucial to check the tide times before setting off, reports Cornwall Live. However, at the end of your journey, you’re greeted with “postcard” scenery, while at low tide, it’s often possible to take a dip in the tidal pool – if you’re brave enough to face the chilly water.

Blogger Lizzy Parkin, who posts on TikTok under the handle @flossys_wonderland, shared a video showcasing the “beautiful” beach. She told her followers: “I’m on a mission to find places across the UK that make people say, ‘I can’t believe this is the UK.’

“This is episode 2, and I’m sharing a stunning swimming spot, cove and natural rock pool.” Lizzy added: “The water here is a crystal turquoise colour, and these clips are completely unedited.

“The colour really is that bright. This spot is inaccessible by car, making it even more special and uncrowded. We parked at Lands End car park and walked the coastal path for around 30 minutes, which was absolutely beautiful.

“It has cliff and ocean views all the way along. If you do decide to swim in the rock pool, please be careful when making your way over to it. You’ll need to climb over rocks which are extremely slippery, and it may be wise to bring wet shoes to make the walk over easier.

“This place is called Nanjizal Bay.” Replying to the video, one commenter said: “My favourite beach.” Another wrote: “I’ll never forget that tight little walk which nearly made me turn back but it was sooooo worth it.”

Nanjizal Beach also receives rave reviews on TrustPilot. For instance, one visitor wrote: “Hidden Gem. This beach has the most beautiful turquoise water and white sand, and is the perfect escape from the tourist traps like Land’s End. The walk around the Coast Path is incredible when the sun is shining, and you can see Nanjizal Beach glistening in the distance as you come around the headland.

“This recent visit was the first time I’d been with our dog, and my only piece of advice would be just to be wary of the steps down to the beach with your 4 legged friend. My Cocker Spaniel is not the most delicate or agile so struggled a bit with the steps and the scramble to the sand, but once we were on the beach he had a lovely time!”

Someone else wrote: “Lovely beach. Very scenic.” They explained: “A lovely beach with beautiful blue water, clear pools to splash around in and a fresh water stream dropping down off the cliff. Very scenic. Large boulders scattered across the beach make it a little hard to access parts of the beach.”

Another review said: “A 2-3 hour walk from Sennen Cove along a breathtaking coastal stretch, which passes a shipwreck, OR you can take a diagonal path from Land’s End across the cliffs (faster but not as breathtaking). You will pass a patch of stinging nettles, and a narrow stretch with a steep drop so keep dogs on leashes, and keep hold of kids.

“Once you get to the cove, it is literally paradise. Crystal clear water, caves, turquoise ocean, soft white sand and not many people. We were lucky enough to see Seals bathing, too! There are no kiosks, toilets or anything there so go prepared.”

According to the Cornwall Beach Guide, there is only a small strip of sand at the beach this summer. A notice on the website reads: “Usually there is plenty of sand but at times, especially after stormy weather the sand can be stripped from the beach to leave a beach consisting mainly of boulders.

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“There are no facilities or parking at Nanjizal and the beach is only accessible by walking. Update summer 2025 – this summer the beach is mainly boulders with only a small strip of sand.”

The guide adds: “Access is via the coast path from either Porthgwarra, Lands End or Sennen Cove. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from Porthgwarra to Nanjizal Beach, about 45 minutes from Lands End to Nanjizal. Final access to Nanjizal Beach is via steep steps.”

Moreover, the guide cautions that the boulders can be slippery when wet, there are reports of rip currents, and the path from Land’s End to Nanjizal has unprotected cliff edges. Visitors should always exercise caution, check the forecast, and adhere to safety guidelines when walking and swimming.

Nanjizal Beach is located near Porthgwarra, Cornwall. The beach is not accessible by car. The postcode for Porthgwarra Car Park is TR19 6JP.

Secret awesome UK beach with vast expanse of white sand is a great escape from the crowds – and it’s so tucked away from sight that it was a smuggler’s favourite in times gone by

An unspoilt beach is a retreat away from crowds of holidaymakers, which is what many are hoping to find as the summer holidays begin. The sandy bay is so tucked away out of sight that smugglers would bring in their wares to this part of the coastline many years ago.

The beach also has two names it goes by, it’s located on the Gower Peninsula in South West Wales – and you need to take a pleasant long walk to reach it. Slade Bay, also known as The Sands due to the vast white sand beach at low tide, is like a special paradise – and it doesn’t get crowded.

Visitors describe it as a ‘beautiful bay, so unspoilt’, it’s also dog-friendly and you can even go surfing there. The Beach Guide website also described it as a good spot for fishing – and of course amazing sunsets due to its south west setting.

Hotel Parc Le Breos describes the hike to the gorgeous beach on their website: “A very picturesque walk around Oxwich Point all the way to Slade Bay. Varied scenery and fantastic views up and down the Gower Peninsula.”

You’ll cover a distance of about four miles to get to Slade Bay – and it’ll take an average time of two hours, however it will be worth the walk. The terrain is said to be ‘easy underfoot but some steep climbs including a big flight of steps’ according to advice from the hotel Parc Le Breos website.

The Parc Le Breos website explained where to park, before taking up the hike: “Head down to Parkmill then turn tight onto the south Gower road (A4418) turning off at the signposted junction for Oxwich. Park in the large supervised beach car park.”

Then you head towards the Oxwich Bay Hotel, before walking towards the church ‘nestled in the woods’ – this is the start of the trek to the beach. From there it’s a climb up lots of steps, then it’s a left – follow a path alongside fields then follow the path down a cliff top, which takes you along the cliff’s edge.

After a while you’ll see Slade Bay and you need to follow an uphill path up to the valley before you come to a track and then a lane, which you’ll need to turn right on and follow for one mile. You’ll then descend to Oxwich village and you should see the Oxwich castle on the right – from here you’ll find a narrow path towards the beach.

The Beach Guide also explained the location: “Slade beach, or The Sands as it is also known, sits just beyond the end of Port Eynon beach. In fact on a super low tide you can actually get here with dry feet from the Horton end of Port Eynon.

“As the name suggests there is a good sized stretch of sand here, although this depends to a large extent on the state of the tide. To each side of the beach are extensive flat rocks that are home to numerous rock pools, whilst to the rear are low cliffs.

They added that ‘access to the beach isn’t terribly straightforward’ as there is ‘no obvious route down from the coast path’ between the more well-known Horton and Oxwich Bay. However, this is why the beach is usually uncrowded, hence making it ‘a favourite with smugglers in years gone by’.

A gorgeous white sand beach is well worth having on your travel bucket list especially as it’s one of the best spots for swimming during the summer months

A breathtaking beach is already hailed as one of the best in Europe, and now it’s also been tipped as a must-visit for Brits looking for swim-friendly waters.

Tropea in Italy is no hidden gem, and it’s not difficult to see why it’s been crowned a must-visit this summer. If you were going to put a picture of a beach on a postcard, Tropea ticks all of the boxes. White sands? Check. Crystal-clear waters? Check. Breathtaking surroundings for those all-important Instagram backdrops? Check.

The Blue Flag beach is free to visit, but it can get quite busy during the peak summer months because it’s popular with both locals and tourists. As for those inviting turquoise waters, you can hire the likes of pedalos in the area to go exploring, or join one of the many boat trips that take you along that ridiculously pretty Italian coast.

As for back on the fine sands, you can hire sunloungers and umbrellas, not to mention that there are plenty of restaurants and shops just a short walk away. The gorgeous beach is also currently rated as one of the top 10 in Europe, taking eighth place in the rankings on Tripadvisor, based on visitors’ reviews.

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One happy holidaymaker wrote of their stay: “Wonderful place, always clean and clear water (so much so that you could see the fish). We rented a pedal boat to go a little ‘offshore’ and enjoy the enchanting sea of Tropea and we are not disappointed. Enchanted!”

Another added: “The downside is the need to climb stairs from the city to the beach and back. But in Calabria, it’s inevitable. Pros are much more: a beautiful coast, with bays and relatively low tourist occupancy, crystal clear water, a clean groomed beach, wonderful views and beautiful sunsets.”

If you are planning to take a dip, you’ll likely get to enjoy water temperatures averaging 26.3C, according to new research from Iglu Cruise. In fact, their experts have named Tropea as the best beach in Italy when it came to rankings of where to go for a dip, and enjoy glorious sun-soaked weather.

The travel insiders explained: “Often regarded as one of the best beaches in Italy (according to Tripadvisor), Tropea Beach is another location where you can find warm sea temperatures that are perfect for swimming in the summer. Views from the beach are spectacular, with surrounding cliffs causing a natural barrier to the wind. If you’re looking for azure blue waters and white sand, this might be the beach for you.”

It wasn’t just Tropea that impressed. In fact, overall it came fifth in the rankings, with Konyaaltı Plajları in Turkey taking the top spot, with waters boasting average temperatures of 27.8C. You can check out the full top 10 list below…

1. Konyaaltı Plajları, Antalya, Türkiye – 27.8°C
2. Konnos Bay, Ayia Napa, Cyprus – 27.3°C
3. Anthony Quinn Bay, Rhodes, Greece – 26.5°C
4. İztuzu Plajı, Dalyan, Türkiye – 26.5°C
5. Tropea Beach, Tropea, Italy – 26.3°C
6. Myrtos Beach, Kefalonia, Greece – 25.7°C
7. Elafonissi Beach, Crete, Greece – 25.6°C
8. Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain – 25.1°C
9. Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa, Italy – 24.9°C
10. Playa de Muro Beach, Majorca, Spain – 24.8°C

Do you have a travel story you want to share with us? Email us at [email protected]

AVP, the biggest and longest-running professional volleyball league, hosted beach volleyball matches for the first time in an NBA arena this past weekend.

Hosted at the Intuit Dome, crews were tasked with bringing 300 tons of sand from a quarry in Palm Springs, which is roughly 16 truck loads. AVP is looking for creative ways to attract a new audiences to the sport, often hosting their marquee volleyball events in unconventional locations.

Timelapse of Intuit Dome transforming into an indoor beach vollyball court. (Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)

A wooden sandbox was constructed to contain the prewashed sand and form a single court.

It took the crew, which consists of about 150 people for a change over a typical event at Intuit Dome, five hours after the conclusion of the event to ready the arena for Clippers season ticket-holders the following day.

The former “King of the Beach” kept his crown tucked away Saturday night.

Clad in denim jeans and a plain white shirt, Sinjin Smith hovered on the sidelines of the sand.

When Hagen Smith — the son and spitting image of Sinjin — sailed a serve too far, Sinjin craned his neck back and clenched his jaws.

“On the court, he tells me to serve short, and I never listen,” Hagen said.

And when Hagen — a UCLA alum like his father — uncorked a spike that thudded into the sand untouched, Sinjin’s arm sliced the air as a grin stretched across his face and his applause echoed.

“I wasn’t disguising anything,” Sinjin said.

Anonymity didn’t stand a chance as Sinjin watched Hagen and Logan Webber locked in a razor-edged three-setter against the Palm Beach Passion that twice spilled past regulation.

But as Sinjin rode every rally, Hagen and Webber eked out a narrow victory, going 13-15, 18-16 and 18-16. The L.A. men’s duo remains undefeated through five weeks of AVP play, helping offset the L.A. Launch female duo’s first loss of the year earlier Saturday. Their combined records will determine whether they win the AVP League regular season crown.

L.A. Launch’s Hagen Smith spikes the ball as Logan Webber watches during their win over Palm Beach Passion’s Phil Dalhausser and Trevor Crabb at the Intuit Dome on Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Two dozen years removed from his final outing on the sand, Sinjin carved his career on the chaos of close calls. But Friday, with his son trading kills in a battle that felt like it refused to end, Sinjin was dodging heart attacks.

As the crowd learned in, Sinjin leaned back.

“It’s nerve wracking to watch him — you couldn’t get a better match for the fans, but I hated it,” Sinjin said. “I want to win in two and go home.”

While Sinjin might’ve winced through every extra-point rally, Hagen soaked it all in — steady under pressure.. He may be “trying his best to live up to” his father, but to hear Sinjin tell it, Hagen had already surpassed the myth.

Sinjin Smith competes in the AVP Santa Barbara Open on 18 Aug. 18, 2001, in Santa Barbara.

(Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“He’s an unbelievable resource to me. I’ll ask him at like, midnight, ‘Hey, can you come out in the morning and coach me?’ He’s there,” Hagen said of Sinjin. “I’ve modeled my game after him, through and through. If I can be as anything like him as a player, I’m honored.”

Sinjin marveled at Hagen with the awe of a fan.

“He’s his own person. He’s playing for himself, trust me,” Sinjin said. “He may be wanting to prove something to me, I don’t know, but he’s done so much more than I ever expected. He’s so fun to watch — the fact that he’s my son, that’s just icing on the cake.”

Sinjin, the UCLA and International Volleyball Hall of Famer, tapped his temple twice when asked where he and his son aligned on the sand. The resemblance, he said, lives in the mind — because Hagen’s style has taken on its own shape, forged far from his father’s shadow.

“He jumps and he’s powerful and he moves in the sand,” Sinjin said. “I did everything pretty well, which was my strength, but he really excels in — for one, attacking the ball, he hits the ball harder and more explosively when he attacks than I ever was.”

For as long as Hagen could remember, Pauley Pavilion was the lighthouse in the distance — the promised land of his childhood dreams. And when he finally walked into the arena, his eyes fixed to a familiar face.

There was Sinjin, featured on the walls around the Bruins’ home.

“Getting to see that, it’s like, ‘Ah, this is home to me. I’ve got dad helping me out, I’ve got dad watching over me. Luckily I got to wear his number that was retired and that felt awesome,” said Hagen, who wore his father’s No. 22 jersey in college.

Sinjin played under Al Scates — the architect of UCLA’s volleyball dynasty and the winningest coach in NCAA men’s volleyball history. Under Scates and his 19 national titles, winning was the annual expectation.

And under Scates’ tutelage, Sinjin bookended his career with national glory, and flooded his cabinets with individual accolades — two All-American recognitions, a Most Outstanding Player distinction at the 1979 national championship and a stalwart of the historic undefeated 1979 squad.

L.A. Launch’s Hagen Smith, left, and Logan Webber, right, celebrate with L.A. Launch teammate Terese Cannon after Smith and Webber beat Palm Beach Passion’s Phil Dalhausser and Trevor Crabb during AVP League play at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

“[Scates] was the best coach of all time in the United States,” Sinjin said. “Al had a knack for picking players that had more than just a physical game. They had a mental game as well. … There’s so many of them that Al trained and went on to be the best of the very best in either beach or indoors.”

Decades later, Hagen was coached by Scates’ protege John Speraw.

After rattling off the names of former teammates and sand-side partners, Sinjin paused, seemingly struck by a pattern he couldn’t ignore: “God,” he said, “there’s a lot of UCLA legends going around.”

Two of those share the same last name.

“[Sinjin] tried to get me into tennis,” Hagen said, “and I was like, ‘Dad, I just want to play volleyball. I just want to be like you.’”

Other AVP results

In other AVP action Saturday, Palm Beach Passion’s Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson handed L.A. Launch’s Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft their first loss, winning 12-15, 15-6, 15-10.

San Diego Smash’s Devon Newberry and Geena Urango defeated Miami Mayhem’s Kelly Cheng and Molly Shaw 15-10, 15-11.

And San Diego Smash’s Chase Budinger and Miles Evans beat Miami Mayhem’s Chaim Schalk and James Shaw 11-15, 15-11, 15-13.

The beach is less than a two-hour drive from London

A beach that stretches for miles of golden sand has been hailed “sensational” by a recent visitor. Bathed in sunshine that turns the sea into a sparkling sheet of diamonds, you’d be forgiven for mistaking Camber Sands near Rye in East Sussex for somewhere far-flung.

The beach has been likened to those in Australia, and with this weekend’s glorious weather a trip to the beach could be ideal. Camber Sands lies between the picturesque, historic town of Rye, known for its vibrant harbour and medieval charm, and Dungeness’s striking headland.

The beach sits at the confluence of the River Rother and Rye Bay, reports Kent Live. While the beach often attracts visitors from near and far on days like today, its vastness means you’ll still be able to carve out your own piece of heaven for a mini holiday.

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Government water quality checks reveal that Camber Sands holds a “good” bathing water profile, proud status it’s maintained since 2021, and the beach also boasts a rating of 4.3 stars out of a possible five on Tripadvisor, based on 1,984 reviews.

However, it’s important to remember the tragic incident in 2016 when five men tragically lost their lives after venturing into the sea at Camber Sands. An inquest concluded their unfortunate deaths as misadventure, suggesting they may have strayed too far towards a sandbar rather than being caught in a rip current.

In response to this tragedy, there are now RNLI lifeguards in place and it’s advised to stay within the red and yellow flag areas monitored by the guards when paddling or swimming. Also, be mindful of the fast-approaching tide, and avoid digging deep holes or tunnels in the sand, as advised by Rochester District on its website.

A recent Tripadvisor review of Camber Sands beach reads: “Such a beautiful place that looks like it’s stood still in time. Sensational Sandy beaches and delightful dunes to watch the sea and grab a life bite or a dip in the sea.

“It’s very simple here and great for picnics . It’s truly beautiful and one of the best beaches I have visited in the UK.” Another user wrote: “This beach was just WOW! Miles of perfect golden flat sands……so reminded us of beaches in Australia.”

Some visitors have complained about the parking costs, however, with summer rates as follows: up to an hour £6; one to three hours £12; three to six hours £24; over six hours: £30. Toilet facilities are available at Camber Sands.

Nearly half the global population has also been exposed to dust levels exceeding WHO safety thresholds.

A new report by the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has found that sand and dust storms are leading to “premature deaths” due to climate change, with more than 330 million people in 150 countries affected.

On Saturday, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) marked the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms and its designation of 2025 – 2034 as the UN Decade on Combating Sand and Dust Storms.

The storms “are fast becoming one of the most overlooked yet far-reaching global challenges of our time”, said Assembly President Philemon Yang. “They are driven by climate change, land degradation and unsustainable practices.”

The secretary-general of WMO, Celeste Saulo, said on Thursday that sand and dust storms do not just mean “dirty windows and hazy skies. They harm the health and quality of life of millions of people and cost many millions of dollars through disruption to air and ground transport, on agriculture and on solar energy production.”

Airborne particles from these storms contribute to 7 million premature deaths annually, said Yang, adding that they trigger respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and reduce crop yields by up to 25%, causing hunger and migration.

“About 2 billion tonnes of dust are emitted yearly, equivalent to 300 Great Pyramids of Giza” in Egypt, Laura Paterson, the WMO’s UN representative, told the UNGA.

More than 80% of the world’s dust comes from the deserts in North Africa and the Middle East, added Paterson, but it has a global effect because the particles can travel hundreds and even thousands of kilometres across continents and oceans.

Undersecretary-General Rola Dashti, head of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, told the assembly the storms’ economic costs are “staggering”.

In the Middle East and North Africa, it costs $150bn, roughly 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP), annually to deal with dust and sand storms, she said.

“This spring alone, the Arab region experienced acute disruption,” Dashti said, citing severe storms in Iraq that overwhelmed hospitals with respiratory cases and storms in Kuwait and Iran that forced school and office closures.

Dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa has travelled as far as the Caribbean and Florida, she said. For the United States, dust and wind erosion caused $154bn in damage in 2017, a quadrupling of the amount since 1995, according to a study in the scientific journal Nature.

The WMO and World Health Organization also warned that the health burden is rising sharply, with 3.8 billion people – nearly half the global population – exposed to dust levels exceeding WHO safety thresholds between 2018 and 2022, up from 2.9 billion people affected between 2003 and 2007.

Devon Newberry is closing in on two years as a professional beach volleyball player. Yet for the last 731 days, “professional” has always felt like an elusive label.

The former UCLA standout is accustomed to life as a beach volleyball player — hauling her equipment on the beach, tugging her bag across the uneven sand while weaving through sunbathers and surfboards. She’s used to hearing provisional bleachers creak under sunscreen-slathered fans as music buzzes through nearby portable speakers.

There’s charm in that chaos. But it’s nothing like the entrance Newberry made Friday at the Intuit Dome.

Above her, the sweeping halo scoreboard glowed, flashing beneath the thump of blasting pop anthems. Around her, where NBA chants once echoed, beach volleyball fans cheered. And strangest of all, tons of sand created a faux indoor shoreline.

After two years chasing it, Newberry found her label.

“I walked into the Intuit Dome today and I was like, ‘I feel like a professional athlete walking in,’” Newberry said. “I haven’t felt like that as a beach player. There’s very rare moments when you’re like, ‘Wow, I am really a professional athlete.’ And when I was going underground here and looking all around me, I was like, ‘I really am a professional athlete.’ And that’s because we’re playing at the Intuit Dome.”

In what began as a head-scratcher for the players themselves, 300 tons of sand were poured into the Intuit Dome, turning the Clippers’ arena into a pop-up beach — where the L.A. Launch kept their perfect run afloat for the start of AVP League Week 5.

The Launch struck first and last — with Megan Kraft and Terese Cannon opening with a win, and Hagen Smith and Logan Webber closing it out — both pairs dismantling the San Diego Smash. Sandwiched between those victories, Palm Beach Passion’s men’s and women’s teams both made quick work of the Miami Mayhem.

The moment Newberry described — descending into an NBA arena re-imagined as a sand-strewn battleground — was the AVP’s moonshot: to re-imagine the sport in lights, not solely sunlight.

“Playing in such an amazing place, brand new building, with everything going on, with the new building around here, it’s really cool,” said 2016 Olympian Chaim Schalk. “To get to play at such an iconic arena is an honor.”

Logan Webber of the L.A. Launch spikes over Chase Budinger of the San Diego Smash at the Intuit Dome on Friday night.

(Joe Scarnici / Getty Images)

Beach volleyball rarely has ventured beyond its coastal roots. But at the Intuit Dome, the sport embraced a new direction.

“This shows that beach volleyball is growing and it’s trying to adapt to the world we live in, finding a new way for fans to interact with the players, and new ways for the sport to be exciting,” said Chase Budinger, a former NBA player who became a beach volleyball player. “This will get more people in the stands because it’s so new and so different.”

In place of sun-worshiping fans camped out on makeshift bleachers, parents lounged on cushioned seats as kids nestled beside them balancing chicken wings and pizzas on their laps.

The sport welcomed a combination of newcomers hunting for Friday night entertainment and AVP devotees.

“There’s so many people who love beach volleyball, and so many people who would love beach volleyball if they were just given the opportunity to go watch,” Newberry said. “And not everybody can make it out.”

Change comes with tradeoffs. With no wind, the court became something of a power chamber — the compact sand lending itself to higher and cleaner jumps, the still air enabling blistering serves and monstrous spikes that might have drifted wide on the beach.

Rallies became quicker and tighter. The margin for error shrank, tightening the grip on the crowd.

“For a lot of people watching beach volleyball for the first time, it’s really hard to conceptualize how wind, how deep the sand is, might affect play,” Newberry said. “So it feels like more of an even playing field which allows everybody to watch really entertaining volleyball.”

By re-imagining the boundaries of where its sport can potentially thrive, the AVP might have sketched out a novel blueprint for other sports.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if other sports follow and start expanding their ideas of where they could play,” said Olympic silver medalist Brandie Wilkerson. “I’m excited to see where this is going to go and see other sports try to catch up.”

If you’re struggling to find the perfect beach spot for summer 2025, look no further

With more than 1,000 beaches across the UK, choosing the ideal spot for a summer day can be challenging. However, one travel enthusiast’s recommendation may help you narrow down that list.

The TikTok creator, dubbed Lotteboo, joked that the stunning location had left her ‘flabbers truly gasted’ after a short trip earlier in the year. Featuring golden sands and a nostalgic pier, this spot is just under three hours from central London, making it the perfect choice for a day trip.

Speaking on the social media platform, she said: “The sun is shining, and do you know what that makes me want to do as a basic British girl? Go to the seaside and have f***ing ice cream. ‘Which seaside?’, I hear you ask.

“There are so many to choose from, we’re an island, after all. ‘Don’t say Cornwall, it’s too far away,’ Southwold. We’ll go to Southwold – a sandy beach with colourful, albeit very overpriced, beach huts dotted along the sand. Check.”

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Southwold is a quaint seaside town in Suffolk on the east coast of the UK. It not only boasts a golden sandy beach but an array of quintessentially British independent shops, cafes, and restaurants, too.

During her time in Southwold, Lotteboo also enjoyed the coastline’s ‘nostalgic’ pier filled with various arcade games suitable for all ages. She then visited the town’s lighthouse, which visitors can view from the inside if they wish.

“A nostalgic pier filled with arcade games and cute little plaques with love notes on. Check,” she continued. “A town filled with independent shops, gorgeous bakeries and its own brewery that you can do a tour of, and little galleries to browse at your own leisure. Check.”

She then joked: “If I am going to the seaside, I want a flipping lighthouse and a promenade. For me to wander like a Victorian lady who has been sent to the seaside for a change of scenery after declaring she might kill her husband.”

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If you’re keen to visit Southwold without a car, the nearest train stations are located in Darsham and Halesworth. These are roughly 10 miles away from Southwold, but bus services are available at each location.

However, the creator added: “If you live in London – I don’t know why I always say that I don’t even live in London – but if you do live in London, it is a bit spicy, but you can probably do it in a day. Like, I think the drive is about two hours [and] 40 minutes.

“So, you are going to be tired, but you are also going to be refreshed. So, maybe just do it!” Lotteboo’s video quickly garnered several comments from fans, many of whom appreciated her recommendation.

Among them, one person wrote: “I’m not great with heights but I went up the lighthouse. Great views.” Meanwhile, another added: “Looks lovely there, thanks,” as someone else wrote: “We are lucky that you share all these wonderful things to see and do.”

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.

AVP, the biggest and longest-running professional volleyball league, will play matches in an NBA arena for the first time this weekend in Inglewood.

A crew picked up 16 dump truck loads from a quarry in Palm Springs, delivering 300 tons of sand into the Intuit Dome for AVP League matches on Friday and Saturday.

The crew constructed a wooden sandbox barrier to protect the arena floor. The sand, pre-washed and compacted upon arrival, was dumped into an 18-inch wooden frame, with elements such as hospitality added to help remove debris from the air.

A worker prepares sand at the Intuit Dome ahead of an AVP tournament.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“If all goes well, it’s about a six- to eight-hour build from start to finish with the court,” said Logan Dan, head of operations for AVP Professional Beach Volleyball Tours. “It takes about six hours to build the court specifically.”

Once the event concludes, the crew dismantles the frame and removes the sand using equipment that looks like a modified small tractor.

“We break the box open and use a skid steer with a box broom attachment — it sweeps up a lot of the sand,” Dan said.

Although indoor beach volleyball is unusual, the AVP’s new league model — introduced last year — has made it possible to bring tournaments to unconventional venues. The league is investing in creative ways to grow accessibility and exposure.

1

2

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1. One of many trucks makes its way through the Intuit Dome to deliver sand in preparation of an AVP league event. 2. Workers slowly cover the floor of the Intuit Dome with sand. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“What that has allowed us to do is to bring volleyball into different areas that it might not be,” Dan said. “For instance, we’re going to New York next week, and we’ll be putting a court in Central Park, right in Wollman Rink, where they normally have ice skating in the winter and pickleball in the summer.”

Conditions for beach volleyball differ significantly between outdoor and indoor play. Sun, wind and heat heavily influence outdodor players’ performance and court dynamics. Indoors, the environment remains cooler and still, free from elements such as whipping winds or scorching sun.

“It’s so close and loud and intimate that it creates that very cool environment,” Logan said.

AVP declined to disclose what it costs to build courts in unconventional locations such as the Intuit Dome.

Logan said AVP staff hope fans will enjoy a fun, family-oriented community environment that features more seats close to the action than a typical beach volleyball court.

Workers cover the floor of the Intuit Dome with sand ahead of an AVP league event.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The schedule

AVP League matches start Friday at 5 p.m. with the L.A. Launch playing the San Diego Smash in the first match.

Doors open Saturday at 4 p.m., with the Palm Beach Passion playing the L.A. Launch during the first match.

Tickets started at $43.50 apiece.

What’s at stake

The AVP League format differs from traditional tournaments. A men’s duo and women’s duo represent a city and their combined records determine position in league standings. At the end of league play, one of eight cities will be crowned the AVP League champion. The playoffs feature a postseason tournament seeded based on each duo’s record during the season. The tournament splits into male and female competition groups, with the winning duo in each group earning the top prize.

The top two teams in the league standings are the L.A. Launch and the Palm Beach Passion. L.A. Launch is undefeated, while Palm Beach Passion is 6–2.

Who is playing in Inglewood?

Four of the league’s eight city teams will be represented. The lineup includes numerous Olympians, USC alums and a former NBA player.

No. 1 L.A. Launch
Men: Hagen Smith and Logan Webber | Women: Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft

No. 2 Palm Beach
Men: Trevor Crabb and Phil Dalhausser | Women: Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson

No. 6 San Diego Smash
Men: Chase Budinger and Miles Evans | Women: Abby Van Winkle and Geena Urango

No. 8 Miami Mayhem
Men: Chaim Schalk and James Shaw | Women: Kelly Cheng and Molly Shaw

Highcliffe Beach is a stunning Blue Flag beach which is the perfect spot for a day out or a summer break away from the crowds, with plenty of greenery and sand dunes

Tucked between the historic Dorset town of Christchurch and the village of Highcliffe-on-Sea, lies a hidden gem of a beach, surrounded by lush greenery and sand dunes. Highcliffe Beach, a beautiful Blue Flag beach, is an ideal spot for a day trip or a weekend summer getaway from the daily grind.

Highcliffe boasts breathtaking views of the Isle of Wight and the Needles, straddling the Dorset-Hampshire border. It’s a favourite amongst both tourists and locals. The beach offers a mix of shingle and sand, making it the perfect spot to pitch up for a sun-soaked day. It’s a hotspot for swimmers and surfers alike, so remember to pack your bodyboard.

For those who enjoy a good stroll, there’s a 2.5-mile walk along the beach leading to Mudeford Quay. From here, you can hop on a ferry to Mudeford Sandbank, or continue your journey to Hengistbury Head and then all the way along the promenade to Bournemouth Pier, reports the Express.

While it is a dog-friendly beach, Visit South East England advises that our four-legged friends are not allowed between groynes H8 and H11 from May 1 to September 30. However, dogs on leads are welcome all year round.

Previous beachgoers have lavished praise on the coastal gem, describing it as a “wonderful stretch of coastline” with “incredible views”. ECC shared their thoughts on Tripadvisor: “Wonderful stretch of coastline. Incredible views. No roads in sight once down by the sea. Nice cliff top cafe/restaurant. Public toilets. No showers. Beach is a lovely mix of sand, stones, small boulders. Paddle boarders, surfers, swimmers even in freezing weather! Dog heaven.”

Anna also chimed in: “A very lovely place. We were able to walk even with our daughter who is a wheelchair user. Amazing view, great parking (accepts only coins) and lovely cafe and ice cream van on the right side it’s rocky beach and on the left side sandy beach (dogs friendly) so everyone can find something lovely.”

Tracey didn’t hold back her admiration either, saying: “An absolutely stunning beach with soft silky sand making it perfect to gently stroll along, or to just sit peacefully with your family for a great day of fun with or without a tasty picnic.”

Just a stone’s throw away from the beach’s dunes stands Highcliffe Castle. Constructed in the 1830s, this historic edifice is heralded as one of the most significant remaining structures built in the Romantic and Picturesque architectural style.

Lord Stuart de Rothesay took inspiration from his grandfather, the third Earl of Bute, who had previously constructed on the castle’s site. The castle has welcomed a host of renowned figures throughout its history, including Kaiser Wilhelm, four-time prime minister William Gladstone, and author and socialite Nancy Mitford, from the notorious Mitford family.

In more recent times, Highcliffe served various purposes such as a children’s home and a training centre for the Claretian Fathers, a Catholic Church order, before enduring two fires and descending into disrepair.

Since then, the castle has been lovingly restored to its former splendour, serving as a venue for weddings, performances, fairs, and exhibitions.

Sandbanks has been named the UK’s most expensive seaside town again after a new survey found that the average asking price for a home is an eye-watering £1,282,565

City-dwellers dreaming of coastal escapes during the sweltering summer heat want to think twice before setting their sights on Sandbanks.

The exclusive Dorset enclave has once again been named the most expensive seaside town in the UK, with property prices soaring well above the million-pound mark.

According to new figures released by Rightmove, the average asking price for a home in Sandbanks is now £1,282,565 – making it the only seaside location in Britain where average house prices break the £1 million barrier. That figure is more than three times the UK average of £378,240.

Despite the eye-watering price tag, the data also reveals that even Sandbanks hasn’t been immune to the wider market downturn. Prices in the coastal hotspot have dipped three percent compared to 2024. But that hasn’t dented buyer interest.

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“Sandbanks now stands out as the only seaside spot with an average asking price of over the million-pound mark,” said Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove.

The figures reflect a broader trend as buyer demand is up eight percent in the UK’s most desirable coastal areas, even as prices drop. Across the top 50 most expensive seaside towns, average asking prices have fallen one per cent year-on-year.

Long established as Britain’s answer to Monte Carlo, Sandbanks’ allure lies in its rare mix of golden beaches, luxury properties, and close proximity to London.

Nestled on a tiny peninsula at the mouth of Poole Harbour, the town boasts some of the most coveted real estate in the country – and it’s a magnet for celebrities.

Harry Redknapp, Karl Pilkington, and Liam Gallagher are among the A-listers believed to own homes in the area, which is known for its upscale dining, sleek modern builds, and sweeping views of the Jurassic Coast.

Just two miles up the road, the nearby neighbourhood of Canford Cliffs also made the list, claiming the second most expensive coastal town spot.

Properties there command an average price of £974,635, despite a nine per cent drop from last year.

In third place is Milford-on-Sea, a picture-postcard village in Hampshire, where buyers can expect to pay around £728,460 on average.

While the south coast dominates the luxury end of the market, bargain-hunters should look north.

The most affordable seaside town in the UK, according to Rightmove, is Saltcoats in Ayrshire, where average asking prices are less than a quarter of a million pounds – well below the national average.

Other budget-friendly options include Peterlee in County Durham, further underlining the North-South divide when it comes to coastal property prices.

“Lower-priced seaside spots like Saltcoats and Peterlee offer home-movers a sea view at a fraction of the price,” Babcock said.

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