The 'secret' beach that's one of 'UK's most secluded' transformed from 'waste dump'

One of the UK's most secluded beaches was once a dumping ground but after years of being cleared up it is now attracting new visitors.

Horden beach in County Durham is one of the UK's most secluded beaches and with barely any posts made about it on Instagram,you might have the rare chance to get this beach all to yourself.

Research from Onbuy.com shows the beach is the second most secluded in the UK, with the beautiful north east beach one of 15 with the least tagged photos on social media platform, making it a real hidden gem.

Shockingly, this beach was originally a waste dump - which visitors say you wouldn't believe if you saw it now.

It was used for decades as a dumping ground for four mines in East Durham, which might be why the area isn't visited very often.

Research suggests that the 12km stretch of beach was buried under no less than 2.5million tonnes of colliery waste - every single year.

But today, the coast has been completely rejuvenated and since the late 1990s has been home to a variety of wildlife and a place where people enjoy taking a break.

One visitor on Tripadvisor said: "It is a nice walk from Peterlee if you use Castle Eden Dene, with nice scenery and very picturesque. The views from Blackhall cliffs are also very good."

Another visitor said: "This is an interesting beach to visit, there's not much evidence of the beach history left now, but it is worth a visit.

"There is a small lane down to the beach signposted from the village and then a tiny car park at the bottom. You can follow the path to the beach."

Another impressed fan added: "After a short drive down a narrow lane, you arrive at a small car park. If you amble for 100 yards, you reach a two tiered beach.

"The first tier is quite rocky, and then you make your way through gaps in the wall onto this fabulous beach that appears to go on forever! Walk to your left, as the views are breathtaking!"

In first place on the UK's most secluded beach list was Traeth yr Ora Beach in Anglesey, Wales with only 160 hashtags.