One of the finest expanses of shoreline on the east coast, Three Mile Water at Brittas Bay is thought to have been the initial landing point of St Patrick in Ireland. With no headlands to disrupt the gentle rhythm of the waves breaking on the sand, this 5km stretch is perfect for bathing, sailing and walking. For six weeks of summer, Brittas Bay is nature’s playground for children, who can race through the dunes and emerge straight onto the beach. But the rest of the year, the beach is, by and large, the ideal place for monkish solitude and contemplation.