If you don’t fancy flying this summer, you are not alone – from queues caused by new border rules in the EU to high jet fuel costs bringing fears of flight cancellations – skipping the airport has rarely been more appealing. Cue a growing interest in no-fly holidays, with beach destinations easily reached by high-speed rail or by ferry among the most tempting in Europe.
Broadening the summer holiday spectrum reveals overlooked beauty, including North Sea dunes, surfable Atlantic waves, cliff-clasped coves and grand châteaux. And there is something quite special about hopping on the Eurostar and arriving at the beach a few hours later, feet in the sand, ready for a bowl of moules-frites. Here are six of the best no-fly beach destinations, for some holiday inspiration…
The cliffs at Sopelana Beach (Photo: IoanaCatalinaE/Getty/iStock Editorial)
Playa de Sopelana, Spain
Smashed by wind and waves, the Bay of Biscay in Spain’s Basque Country is pure drama, with ancient, layered flysch cliffs sculpted by the erosion from the sea and wind backing the butterscotch sands of Playa de Sopelana.
