Isle of Wight beach Totland Bay named among best in the UK

Travel experts from the national newspaper have picked out their favourite beaches in the British Isles. 

A total of 20 beaches feature on the list and sitting in eighth place is Totland Bay.

Totland Bay (Image: Paul Blackley)

The Telegraph says the West Wight spot offers a "better" choice than the likes of Sandown, Ryde and Colwell.

Read more: Will the warm and sunny weather continue through the weekend?

It does a "marvellous impression of the Med on a sunny day", experts said.

Among the highlights of the beach include a "healthy crop of small yachts bobbing happily beyond the shoreline, and a cracking sunset."

The newspaper said: "Though the hordes which flock from the mainland when the temperature climbs tend to head for the likes of Ryde, Sandown and Colwell, locals know Totland Bay is a better bet by far.

"Just a ten-minute drive from the ferry terminal at Yarmouth, this little sand-and-pebble spot on the West Wight does a marvellous impression of the Med on a sunny day, with vegetation on the neighbouring headland spilling down to the water’s edge, a healthy crop of small yachts bobbing happily beyond the shoreline, and a cracking sunset.

Surfboards at Totland Bay (Image: Paul Blackley)

"Better still, with litter removed daily in summer, and shallows which slope ever so gently, the beach consistently ranks among the Island’s best for cleanliness and safety."

Praise for Totland Bay is timely, given the forecast for hot weather on the Island this weekend.