Forget Cornwall, THESE are the best places to buy a beachfront bolthole: Ultimate guide to little-known ‘up and coming’ coastline havens (without the massive premium)

As the first rays of the sun spread across the spring sky, many of us will be climbing to reach the sea. And where better to enjoy brighter days than in a coastal retreat?

Waterfront properties, unsurprisingly, often come at a premium price; The best resorts offer prices to many buyers.

However, if you’re desperate to bag your own coastal hut, don’t despair: There are plenty of up-and-coming destinations across the country that require a lot less dosh.

We asked experts to recommend the best alternative spots to buy by the sea; just down the road from the usual overpriced hot spots.

Replace Abersoch with Criccieth, North Wales

Particularly popular with buyers from Cheshire and the North West, Abersoch is commanding a real premium on the property market.

‘Criccieth is a more affordable alternative,’ says Tom Carter, director of Fine and Country estate agents in North Wales. ‘A hidden gem at the other end of the Llyn peninsula, it has a quieter, relaxed aura, retaining a more traditional feel – but being just as well-equipped as a seaside town.

‘Criccieth Castle is a striking landmark and a constant reminder of the history here. The beaches are arguably less crowded than those in Abersoch.

‘Independent shops survive and for those who need connections there is a railway station where it is possible to reach Chester 20 minutes faster than Abersoch.’

BUY: II in High Street. A grade-listed flat is priced at £135,000 with Beresford Adams (rightmove.co.uk).

Replace East Lothian with Eyemouth, Scotland

Eyemouth is interchangeable to Edinburgh and Newcastle but offers great value

‘The area around Eyemouth, Coldingham, St Abbs and Cockburnspath is charming, offers much better value and is less populated than East Lothian, which has seen so much development in recent years,’ says Andrew Markham, joint agent at Fine and Country in Scotland.

‘With commuting distance to Edinburgh and Newcastle, this area offers stunning coastlines, remote beaches and unique homes in pristine countryside.

‘We have recently brought on board our new celebrity neighbour, Alan Carr, and purchased Ayton Castle, a major landmark in our beautiful coastal area!’

BUY: A two-bedroom flat in Albert Road is priced at £95,000 with Gibson estate agents (rightmove.co.uk).

Replace Leigh-on-Sea with Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex

Westcliff-on-Sea offers a wide range of property types and good local grammar schools

Leigh-on-Sea and Westcliff-on-Sea are suburbs of Southend and although they are only three kilometers apart, property prices vary widely.

‘The average price of a three-bedroom family home in Leigh is around £525,000, compared to around £375,000 in Westcliff,’ says Hope Frith of Winkworth Leigh-on-Sea.

‘Westcliff attracts those looking for local grammar schools and has two railway stations with trains to London. ‘There are a wide variety of property types.’

BUY: This four-bed terraced house in Westbourne Grove, Westcliff-on-Sea, is priced at £425,000 with Winkworth (winkworth.co.uk).

Replace Bolton-le-Sands with Morecambe, Lancashire

Morecambe has one of the best views of English seaside towns from its wide promenade

Hest Bank and Bolton-le-Sands depart from Morecambe with no visible distinction. But properties are notably pricier, averaging around £340,000 compared to £175,000 in more affordable Morecambe.

‘Morecambe has one of the best views of any English seaside town from its wide promenade: a magnificent panorama of coastline and loch overlooking the Lakeland mountains,’ says Jo Bond, director of Fine and Country, Lakes and North Lancashire.

‘There are beautiful beaches, festivals and activities all year round. Morecambe, seen as a good investment area in the future, will be the location of Eden Project Morecambe [a visitor attraction similar to the one in Cornwall] – an exciting new development on the central promenade.’

The town is surrounded by stunning, easily accessible countryside, including the Lake District and Bowland Forest, and is well connected by road and rail. Morecambe railway station connects to Lancaster with services to London Euston and Edinburgh in under two and a half hours.

BUY: This characterful period sandstone six-bed Morecambe townhouse is priced at £499,950 with Fine and Country (www.fineandcountry.co.uk).

Replace Witterings with Selsey, West Sussex

Selsey is among the most affordable areas in the Chichester area and has fewer second home owners than other towns in the region

Witterings carries a clear price advantage, mainly due to its property stock, reputation and ‘Hamptons’ feel. West Wittering is regularly ranked among the UK’s best beaches and demand is consistently high while supply is limited.

‘Selsey, by comparison, is among the most affordable areas of the Chichester area,’ says Bradley Harris of Chichester Hamptons. ‘The coastline is more exposed and not as picture perfect, but it offers a calmer, more traditional coastal environment and appeals to buyers looking for coastal living and value. It attracts a year-round resident-driven market with fewer second-home buyers.’

BUY: This 17th-century thatched-roof Selsey house is priced at £550,000 (including the Hamptonswww.hamptons.co.uk).

Replace Brighton with Worthing, East Sussex

Worthing, a few miles west of Brighton, is coming into its own as a coastal destination

Often described as ‘London on the Sea’, prices in Brighton may not match the capital, but they are certainly considerably higher than nearby locations. Keyan Nadim, sales manager at Leaders, Worthing, recommends the town a few miles down the coast as a more affordable alternative.

‘Worthing is really coming into its own as a coastal destination,’ he says. ‘There’s a fantastic calendar of events, from Pride and food festivals to concerts and ice skating, and there’s real excitement in the town.

‘For buyers looking for great value on the Sussex coast, a three-bedroom property in Worthing typically comes in at around £350,000, offering significant savings compared to neighboring areas.

‘It’s also more sheltered so you won’t be exposed to storms like in other regions. ‘It offers a great seaside lifestyle with so much more for your money.’

BUY: A two-bedroom house in Cradock Place, Worthing costs £350,000 with Leaders (leaders.co.uk).

…or replace Brighton with Eastbourne, East Sussex

Eastbourne is increasingly attractive to buyers who want a coastal lifestyle without the price tag of nearby Brighton

Eastbourne has undergone a real transformation in recent years, becoming an increasingly attractive option for buyers who want a coastal lifestyle without the price tag of nearby Brighton.

‘This is a beautiful, non-commercial coastline with so much on the doorstep,’ says Beverly Wilson of Leaders Eastbourne. ‘There are many new developments including a brand new shopping centre, lots of popular independent shops and new waterfront apartments. The port has great restaurants. ‘The South Downs are on your doorstep, and there’s also a mainline railway station to London.’

Stephen Rodgers, Fox and Sons Eastbourne branch manager, adds: ‘The average house price in Eastbourne is around £306,000, compared to £410,000 in Brighton, 40 minutes later.

‘It’s a growing organization that allows for better capital growth compared to a peaking market like Brighton.’

BUY: This six-bed Eastbourne townhouse is priced at £425,000 with Fox and Sons (www.rightmove.co.uk).