There's still time to pack the bucket and space and head out for a quick extra summer break along the beautiful coastline of the UK, but for maybe the best landscape holiday photos and super selfies with the most enviable backdrops, choosing to stay at one of Britain's most beautiful seaside villages might be the best choice.
The Telegraph has chosen 19 coastal spots that their experts consider to be some of the most beautiful villages to at least visit for a day, if staying any longer is not an option. Nestled w ithin this list are two Welsh coastal village locations - one that is pretty obvious and one that is maybe more of a surprise unless you have been lucky enough to visit and explore it.
The Telegraph states; "With a coastline stretching for tens of thousands of kilometres, the UK has a catalogue of quintessential villages to choose from – including some delightfully quieter corners. And with the British weather playing ball and flight chaos set to continue into the summer, Britain's shores have never looked more appealing."
READ MORE: The Welsh towns and villages named among the best places to live in the UK in 2022
The list includes well-known and frequently visited locations in Cornwall and Devon, as well as more remote spots such as the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Skye.
The north of England is represented via Staithes, North Yorkshire and Bamburgh, Northumberland, while further south Suffolk, Norfolk and Dorset make an appearance in the list, and Northern Ireland is represented by Carnlough in Co. Antrim.
As well as Scottish islands, Cromarty in the Highlands that can boast the sea on two sides, Crail, Fife has a harbour and cobbled streets and Gardenstown, Aberdeenshire can even captivate you with its name before you even find out it is a pretty village overlooking the Moray Firth and has its own resident pod of dolphins in the firth.
But what about the two Welsh entries into this exclusive list? Do you agree with their inclusion, and what other pretty Welsh seaside villages can rival them and you think should be in the list? Let us know in the comments section at the end of the article.
Portmeirion
Anyone who has ever visited the coastal village of Portmeirion, or even just seen the striking pictures of its distinct architecture and colourful buildings, will probably not be surprised to discover the ever-popular and truly unique Gwynedd coastal village on this small list of locations.
The inspirational creator of Portmeirion was genius architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis after a trip to Italy sparked his imagination to create a slice of pretty and quirky Italia in north west Wales. According to website Visit Wales he was an ardent environmentalist who wanted to create a functional and attractive private village that would act as 'propaganda for good manners'.
After it opened in 1926 it astounded visitors with its uniquely designed buildings with fancy features, arches, windows of all shapes and sizes, and painted in many playful colours, all clustered around a central piazza.
Some people might even recognise the village from the popular, cult classic 1960s television programme The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan where the village was used extensively as the location backdrop for the 17-episode series.
The village hugs the stunning coastline and offers incredible sweeping sea views but you may be distracted for a while from the coastal vista by the winding pathways that lead through Riviera-inspired houses, ornamental gardens and even a lawn featuring a giant chess board.
There are so many quirky and mesmerising buildings to admire, but some highlights include Hercules Hall, Bristol Colonnade, Belvedere and the Gothic Pavilion. There are a number of places to stay within the village and even get married in one of the two hotels.
Hotel Portmeirion is a Grade II listed former Victorian villa converted into a hotel in 1925, also by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, that sits on a prime spot overlooking the water. Castell Deudraeth is a four-star hotel located within the grounds of Portmeirion and offers visitors contemporary style within a striking Gothic castle. More guest accommodation can be found nestled within the heart of the village, including the Mermaid Spa and rooms, and suites within the pretty properties can also be hired. There are shops, galleries, cafes and places to eat in the village too.
The Telegraph states: "While it may be the only village on the list with opening hours, Portmeirion has to be one of the most interesting. Clough Williams-Ellis wanted to show that you could develop a naturally beautiful landscape without ruining it, the colourful tourist village offers free 20-minute tours between Easter and October, as well as a complimentary land train tour of the nearby Gwyllt woodlands."
Although moving to and living in the village is not an option at the moment the area surrounding the location is a popular place to call home at an affordable price surrounded by oodles of beauty according to research - find out more about that here.
Llangrannog
This coast-hugging Ceredigion village is a little gem; a small and beautiful place that has a beach that on a quiet day feels like your own, flanked by two pubs, cafes, a shop and a short steep walk to a vantage point that towers over the sea crashing into rocks on one side and the serene colour of the village on the other.
The village is watched over by a statue of St Crannog, thought to be the son or grandson of the Prince of Ceredigion, who came to the location in the fifth century and established a religious community and settlement close to the site of the present church. The landmark was designed by renowned sculptor Sebastien Boyesen, who lives in Llangrannog.
In the summer it's not a surprise to find the beach at the village packed with holidaymakers and daytrippers sprawling across the beautiful sandy beach and having fun in the crystal clear sea, and the controversial car park full to bursting - find out more about the notorious Llangrannog car park here.
It is also a village that many people across Wales can place fondly within their childhood memories as the location of the Urdd Gobaith Cymru organisation's educational centre just outside the village, that started in 1932 as an Urdd summer camp that rab for four weeks each summer.
But the centre has developed through the decades into year-round centre for sports and activities as well as a camp for school children to improve their Welsh language skills that thousands of children have visited, stayed and loved through the years. Find out more about the centre and its history here.
Website Visit Wales describes Llangrannog as a hidden village nestled within a narrow valley down to the ocean and as well as family day out at the beautiful beach, can offer It also offers an extensive range of sports and leisure facilities, including sea kayaking and rather surprisingly a dry ski slope, associated with the Urdd's centre.
The Telegraph states: "As the river Hawen makes its way down to Cardigan Bay, it breezes past this pretty village. While you can enjoy the main beach that's popular with surfers for much of the day, if you wait until low tide, you can walk around to a second (which you can also climb down to from the cliff path when the waves lap higher). You can indulge on traditional pub grub, homemade ice creams and a quick bite at one of the cafes. There's also a charming circular walk to enjoy around the headlands of of Ynys Lochtyn."
The village is so small, finding a property for sale to call your new home might take a while and might need to spread your search over the area known as Llandysul too. According to property portal Rightmove, properties in Llangrannog had an overall average price of £369,375 over the last year and overall, sold prices in Llangrannog over the last year were 486% up on the 1996 peak of £63,000.
The majority of sales in Llangrannog during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £400,833. Terraced properties sold for an average of £275,000.
The full list of the most beautiful seaside villages in the UK:
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