Best Beaches in Europe, Including Silver Sands and Sandwood Bay

What was your favourite summer holiday ever? Bet it involved a beach, right? Lots of people have a best beach which they either want to shout about from the rooftops or never share with a soul, and BEST BEACH is one of the most hotly contested titles in the world, so to stop a riot, here's the list of Best Beaches Europe - in alphabetical order.

The Silver Sands beach in Edinburgh offer spectacular views to the Islands of Inchmickery and Inchcolm with its famous abbey. It is also ideal for birdwatchers who can regularly see red breasted mergansers, cormorants, oystercatchers and curlews, which are often seen feeding on the large grassy area behind the beach at high tide.

The private turquoise shallows and soft pink sand of Sandwood Bay are four miles from the nearest paved road, and a challenge to get to; leave your car at Baltimore and begin your journey on foot, armed with a map. When you get there you realise it was worth the long journey - it has a dramatic and unspoiled beauty coupled with a mystical feel.

Barleycove Beach is a sandy delight amongst the UK's many pebbly beaches and one of the best beaches in Europe. A sandy apron sliding down to the water backed by rounded dunes to hide amongst.

Baska Voda is a blue flag on Croatia's shingle Dalmatian coast with easy access to Hvar, Brac and the Krka National Park.

Cala d'en Serra is a quiet, white, sandy, perfect horseshoe of a cove far from the buzzing haunts of the beautiful people and club bunnies - as far as Ibiza's locals are concerted this is one of the Europe's best beaches and where they take their sun bathing and swimming pleasures.

The Curonian Spit is a peninsular of shifting sand dunes and pine forests and one of the best beaches on the Baltic Sea. A dozen buried villages and few (as yet) Western visitors make this one of the great undiscovered best beaches, Europe.

Gerakas Beach is one of Europe's best beaches for both kids and sea turtles, with warm clean waters that lap at the gently shelving shore backed by shallow rolling dunes.

Haukland Sands is the multiple time winner of the award for Norway's best beach for its scimitar shape in silver, glinting in the sunlight that never quite dies beneath the horizon, backed by the green top-hat-esque backdrop of the Lofoten Islands.

Kallis Beach on the Swedish island of Gotland gets long hours of sunlight, on long, long stretches of sandy beach. Pitch your tent wherever you like and soak up the cool independence of sleeping under warm summer stars for one of Europe's best beach camping experiences.

La Pointe Beach, Cap Ferret, is a long, thin, sandy stretch of Atlantic Coast, dotted with pines and small oyster harvesting villages. Beyond which there's just wild coast and sand dunes.

Little Banana is curved and yellow, has natural shade and is one of the oldest naturist beaches in Europe.

Nissi Beach's soft shelving sands and warm turquoise waters make it one of the best beaches on Cyprus, despite what some guides say about it being a secret or hidden gem - it doesn't take long for that kind of secret to come out, but it must have been a very old secret, the BBC broadcasts live from the beach during the height of the summer clubbing season when the days are made for watersports.

Pampelonne Beach is supposedly the best beach in Europe for stars Spotting - the place to get the expensive devices to see fall into a meal in an expensive yacht parked just off the coast.

Papagayo beach is not one, but a confused Lanzarote coastline with many bays along Beachy it, lined with fine white sand and clear water.

Ramla Bay means "red sand", which is what this beach - is proof that the Maltese people prefer to relax on a secluded beach, lined up in the hollow of a green valley, orchards,than worry about pretty names.

San Vito Lo Capo is one of Sicily's best beaches: white sand and high cliffs between a rocky cape and a nature reserve; and the town specialises in locally grown olives served in family trattorias.

Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsular suffers each turn of the tide, when great swathes of the beach are submerged and separated by high cliffs. Rock climbers love the cliffs and the BBC and Good Beach Guide like the views and water clarity respectively.

Warnemünde Beach on the bracing Baltic coast has fine, white sand not at all spoiled by the 19th Century lighthouse at one end, fish and chip shops in the middle and the people camping at the other.

Zlatni Rat is widely regarded as Croatia's best beach: a V-shaped spit of saffron-cream shingle, striking against an ultramarine Adriatc Sea.

Get Naked on St Martin, St Maarten - The Clothing Optional Island

St Maarten has a rather laid back mindset towards beach nudity and is one of the major Caribbean locations for naturists because of Club Orient on Orient Beach.

Topless tanning is the norm on all the beaches on the French side, as in Europe.

In terms of complete nudity, the only recognized nude beach is the Club Orient area of Orient Bat. Consequently that is where you come across the largest concentration of nudists. Nudity used to be permitted at numerous additional places on the beach, however this has lately changed, so it's most suitable to keep nudity to the Club Orient area, to the little, designated naked location at Coco's and to the more deserted north section of the beach between Coco's and Palm Beach. It is also fine to stroll the entire length of the beach naked in the mornings.

Nudity is tolerated (even though formally not allowed) on numerous other beaches on the French side. Nevertheless as the other beaches are not real naturist beaches we'd point out that the guideline is to be conscious of other people, families with kids and people's houses. So do not just stroll about or sit down nude where ever you wish, but select peaceful places, where you're not in anyone's way. If individuals display any kind of indication of annoyance, proceed to a more remote location of the beach, there's always a private spot. There's been talk that police men (the French side law enforcement) have been turning up on a few beaches lately asking nude individuals to get dressed, so, unless of course you are at Club Orient it's best to dress if some official-looking individuals appear, and in the event that you don't see them arriving, don't worry, just react nicely and get dressed if they ask you to.

Spiritual Awakening for disease

Everyone has had the experience of the sick in their lives. You have the spiritual awakening and learning that have been presented?

Many of you who are on their way to awareness are aware of the metaphysical causes of disease. There are many good books on the subject, including my favorite of Louise Hay and Lise Bourbeau, who is an excellent starting point to understand your dis-ease.

Let's look at it in practice: Take the example ofreoccurring bouts of flu. What are the benefits and potentials for spiritual awakenings in having the flu?

1.       Prioritizing: When your body is weakened by fever and headache you only do what is really important or urgent, like cancelling appointments, calling work to let them know you are not well. You are not wasting time with or worrying about unimportant, trivial matters.

2.       Focus on Health: You become more health conscious, you are mindful of what you eat, drink and what outside influences you expose yourself to.

3.       Speaking the Truth: You might be telling people to stop talking when you're physically, mentally or emotionally not able to take in more. How often does it happen that you are keeping your mouth shut, when you are well, because you want to be 'nice'? When you are sick, you are being more honest with yourself and others.

4.       Looking after Self: When you are feeling low, you have to take your own needs seriously. Looking after your body becomes a matter of self-preservation.

5.       Less Ego Fixation: If you are seriously weakened by your illness you will no longer be bothered making a point. It becomes less important to 'be right' and more important to 'be well'. 

6.       Sticking with the Essential: When you have throat pain, for example, you are only saying what is really necessary, leaving out all the fluff. Similarly to the previous point you are less attached to being right or being heard and trust that things will sort themselves out.

7.       Allowing Help: This is a great chance for people who find it not so easy to accept help under normal circumstances. When you are ill and cannot do certain tasks, you have to learn to accept and welcome help. For the person helping you it is also much nicer to help you as they won't hear: 'Oh no, that's not necessary, I can do it myself!'

So do you have to get sick to learn those lessons or can you do it while you are well?

An introduction to the North Killyleagh

Killyleagh is a large village which sits to the West of Strangford Lough and can be accessed by the road from Downpatrick. With royal connections such as that of Prince Andrew (his title is Baron of Killyleagh and he has visited the small town to unveil a statue of esteemed physician and naturist, Hans Sloane who was born there), an array of wildlife, and a variety of things to do and see, Killyleagh is an up and coming hotspot in the tourism industry within Northern Ireland.

Whether you are visiting as a couple or a family, it is an ideal location surrounded by beautiful countryside, numerous events which take place throughout the year, and is also home to Delamont Country Park which boasts a variety of events and things to do throughout the year. Those that are to visit in Mid-September may be lucky enough to experience the enjoyable Magnus Barelegs Festival in Delamont Country Park and Killyleagh's Viking Boat Race. Magnus Bear Legs Festival is a great experience for all members of the family and makes for a great weekend. Re-enactors and Teams come from all over Ireland, Scandinavia and the UK to put on a terrific show for spectators and to bring History back to life.

Killyleagh is also home to the oldest inhabited castle in Ireland. With some parts of the structure believed to be dating back to 1180, it is still lived in by Gawn Rowan Hamilton and his family. Today, the castle offers self catering accommodation for visitors to come and stay, it also hosts weddings and names such as Van Morrison and Bap Kennedy have played there in recent years as part of the concerts that are organised on the grounds of the castle.

Killyleagh is a wonderful spot where one can get lost in the history and beauty of this hidden gem. A friendly and warm atmosphere will ensure any traveller's visit is a pleasant one and is not to be forgotten.

Costa Almeria Property - Enjoy the Diverse Surrounds

Costa Almeria is a diverse coast in Spain. Enveloped by nature, it truly is a tourist's paradise. The popular Nijar Natural Park lies to the east of Almeria. Largely with a desert-like landscape, the annual rainfall is less than 200mm. The population is relatively low and the villages are sparsely populated. There is a lot of scope for exploration, making this region a favourite among back-packers and nature lovers. To the west are high-end tourist resorts. To the north lie beaches, and to south is the perfect amalgam of hilly areas and beaches.

To avail a Costa Almeria property would be a dream come true for most tourists. The town is popular for many reasons, one of which is the pleasant climate that prevails there - an average of 26 degrees Celsius in summer and 12 degrees Celsius in winter. It is the near ideal place to explore on foot, as well as enjoy the history. In truth, this province is largely ignored when compared to other tourism spots; however, recent times have witnessed a makeover in the facilities that exist there. Still, Costa Almeria remains one of the most "natural" regions in Southern Spain. Costa Almeria property provides the buyer the ideal holiday destination - perfect weather and beautiful natural settings.

You can avail the services of competent real estate agents (there are several). Also, there is the option of the Internet if you are looking for a more convenient way of purchasing Costa Almeria property. The online facility also gives the purchaser a lot of choices to avail from. However, do make it a point to go to proven online agents. The Web may doubtless be a portal to endless riches; however, the darker side of frauds exists in it too.

Finally, buying Costa Almeria property would mean you would be spending a good portion of your time in the Mediterranean country. And living in Spain is (though this has not been authenticated) cheaper than living in the UK. It is said that electricity, cars, water, petrol etc. are all distinctly less expensive.

Having Fun With Beach Bicycles

A beach bicycle is as sleek as it is comfortable, as useful as it is individualistic. For people who love to relax and look good, there is no better vehicle to cruise the beach than a beach bicycle.

Beach bicycles first appeared in the 1960s. Sounds ancient? No way. These bikes have been modified in bits and pieces to improve both their looks as well as usefulness. Today, these bikes look good and feel great. Their wide tires make it easy to navigate concrete roads or gravely beaches. The shock absorbers, extended handlebars, baskets and wider seats ensure rider comfort. Fenders at the rear are fortified with supporting wheels so that the basket can even carry a small child. Added to that is the fact that you can customize the beach bicycle to a great extent. Fit them with bells, horns and other accessories to have the time of your life. Little wonder that people love these nifty machines.

Beach bicycles are not really meant for speed. The machine is best suited for a laid back cruise. Even so, in the last ten years, beach bicycles are being made meaner and faster than before. They have utilities like Springer Forks, spokes and Duck tail fenders. The bicycles even have hanging baskets that may be detached from the bike. Meant to remind you of motorbikes!

These days, beach bicycles are made of lightweight material. That makes it easy to ride them, maneuver them and transport them. However, the lightweight design has made it difficult to catch a ride at the back of the bike.

So, which bike should you buy?

Many folks skimp and save money by buying cheap beach bicycles. But most cheap bicycles are mass produced and have a tendency to show their true worth after a while. Cheap parts cannot last long, naturally. Soon, ball bearings wear away, wheels become misaligned and other pesky little problems rear their ugly heads. If you attempt repairs, you might end up paying more than the money you saved by scrimping in the first place.

Also, there is an increase in exertion levels when riding these bikes as they do not ride as smoothly and easily as high quality beach bicycles.

You would notice the difference in ride quality between lower end models and high quality bikes when you upgrade your beach bicycle. High quality bicycles offer a smooth, comfortable ride. They are built in such a way that components that undergo wear and tear may be replaced without the replacement affecting the whole. Also, high end models require very little maintenance. Thus, in the long run, they prove to offer you better value for money.

So, buy from a reputed dealer, spend a reasonable amount of money and become an expert on accessories. That's the best way to buy a dream bike!

Tips on Choosing Beach Bikes

Beach cruiser lowriders or beach bikes have come a long way since they were first made in the 1950s. At that time, beach bikes were designed to look like a motorbike. Today, they are much improved in design and performance. They are called beach cruiser lowriders because they are constructed close to the ground and are long in shape.

Beach bikes are great comfort vehicles as they make cruising along the beach or the roads a breeze. But, for proper comfort, it is necessary to choose the right beach bike.

By the nature of their design, beach bikes are built to offer maximum comfort. Riders can sit up and ride. This keeps the back comfortable. The seat is wide and has more cushioning effect. These bikes have seat shock absorbers and wider tires. Since beach bikes have a single speed, they are easy to ride. All these features add up to provide maximum rider comfort.

For most folks, beach bikes are the epitome of style. This is one bike that is meant to be seen. It is relaxed, cool and can express its rider's personality more than anything else.

Today, most beach bikes are mass manufactured in China or Taiwan. Of course, this has had a benevolent effect on prices. Unfortunately, it's not all good news. This kind of large scale production affects quality. Many bikes that would not have passed quality standards in the past are making it to the market. Most consumers don't care about durability anyways, steeped as they are in the use-and-throw culture that is very much a part of the general consumer mindset these days.

However, if you want your beach cruiser to last longer, then, you need to pay attention to the quality of the bike. The best way to make out high quality bikes is to look for weld marks on the bike. If these marks are smooth, you can be sure of the high quality of the bike. On the other hand, lower quality bikes have metal puddle at joints where the metal has been welded.

Another matter that most users overlook is the material that the bike is made of. Steel or aluminum? Aluminum is lightweight and rust resistant. So, people who live near the beach or take their bikes to the beach regularly are better off with aluminum beach bikes. The downside is that variety is less when it comes to aluminum. The bulk of beach bikes is made of steel. So, you may find it more difficult to find the bike of your choice if you choose aluminum.

It's a great thing to take an expert with you when you buy a bike. But, don't worry if you can't. Just keep your eyes open. Take a close look at the quality of the frame. Test the brakes and buy the bike that calls out to you. You can't go wrong!