Milford on Sea is among seven South East spots mentioned in the list of the top 50 best UK beaches.
The judge described it as ‘gorgeous’ and ‘where the New Forest meets the sea’.
Chris Haslam, the award-winning chief travel writer at The Times and The Sunday Times, said: “You get not one but four gorgeous beaches along the shores of Milford On Sea: the village where the New Forest meets the sea. The dramatic one is the Shingle Bank.
“It was Milford on Sea’s variety that intrigued me, from the vast bank of shingle leading up to Hurst Castle on the left, past the White House and the huts on Hordle Cliff to the wild grass terraces of Taddisford Gap.”
He selected the UK’s top 50 beaches from a total of 756 that he personally visited and inspected on a month-long campervan tour of the British and Northern Irish coasts.
The guide showcases the unrivalled beauty of the UK seaside, evaluated through a rigorous 11-point inspection checklist of mainland beaches. Criteria include water quality, cleanliness, accessibility, car-parking facilities, lifeguard presence, hygiene levels at restrooms and showers, and dog-friendliness.
Milford on Sea is home to spectacular sea views towards Christchurch Harbour and the Isle of Wight. It has an extensive beachfront, with two different locations – Hordle Cliff beach and Hurst Road, known locally as Keyhaven beach.
Hordle Cliff Beach is sandy at low tide, allowing groups to gather for a splash in the surf or a game of beach cricket. It is home to the colourful Milford on Sea beach huts and the beach is popular with swimmers, kite surfers, and paddle boarders.
Visitors also flock to Hurst Road to enjoy Milford’s vast beachfront with its new look play park, Needles Eye café and award-winning concrete beach huts. Enjoy spectacular views from the top of the beach huts, as a walkway runs along the top, enabling you to walk its full length and enjoy elevated views of the Solent.