Tucked behind windswept dunes on the Lincolnshire coast, this award-winning home by Jonathan Hendry Architects is a lesson in quiet coastal living. A palette of pigmented lime render, polished concrete and birch ply evokes the surrounding beachscape, while the house flows seamlessly to the golden-sand beach for afternoons of rockpooling or barbecuing. There’s plenty of storage for kayaks and paddleboards underneath the home, and it’s all set within a wildlife-rich nature reserve, just 10 miles from Skegness.

With a garden that flows directly onto the sandy dunes of Camber Sands, stretching powdery and pure for five miles, it doesn’t get closer to the beach than this. This striking home, designed by RX Architects, cuts a bold and contemporary shape on this popular part of the coast with silvered cedar cladding, slim-framed glazing and uninterrupted views. Just off the principal bedroom is a tiered roof terrace with a fire pit and roof garden, and the pretty town of Rye and Rye Harbour Nature Reserve are just a short drive away.

Poised on stilts above the salt marsh on a bright steel tripod, this award-winning cabin is a striking response to its wild coastal setting. Designed as an artist’s retreat, its dark cork cladding and pared-back form are inspired by the wading birds that inhabit the Essex coast. Expanses of glass usher in soft marshland light and far-reaching views across the tidal flats towards Colne Point Nature Reserve. Wild, remote and deeply restorative, it’s a striking hideaway for coastal contemplation.

With views across sea lochs and Atlantic waters, this striking timber-clad house by Rural House sits proudly on the rugged coastline of the Isle of Harris. Built with sustainability in mind, it’s the epitome of Highland modernism, with larch cladding, pitched ceilings and vast panes of glass that frame the shifting skies and silvery light. A decked terrace makes the most of the extraordinary views, while white sand beaches and the ferry port at Tarbert are just minutes away.

Sleek, sculptural and right on the water, this bold four-storey home perched on Lancing beach was designed by architect Charlotte Larco as a minimalist retreat by the sea. White render and wall-to-wall glazing maximise the home’s position, with south- and west-facing elevations that frame uninterrupted views of the surf. A rooftop terrace with a hot tub and sauna crowns the house, and one of the UK’s best kitesurfing spots and lively seafront café are just a pebble’s throw away.

Elevated above the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, this modern coastal home is just steps from Barafundle Bay’s golden sands. Built to exacting Passivhaus standards, it cleverly combines energy efficiency with an open, flowing design. Triple glazing frames sea views from every level, while wide terraces and a lush garden offer a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. There’s also a boathouse to make beach life all the easier.