The beautiful beach between 2 UK seaside villages dubbed the 'British Hamptons'

Tucked between two of Cornwall's most glamorous coastal hotspots, a small stretch of golden sand has been turning heads - and earning a very high-end nickname. Daymer Bay, perched on the North Cornish coast between Rock and Polzeath, has become known as the "UK Hamptons," thanks to its combination of natural beauty, serenity and discreet luxury.

Set on the east side of the River Camel estuary, Daymer Bay lies roughly six miles north of Wadebridge, bordered to the north by Trebetherick Point and to the south by the grassy mound of Brea Hill. From its summit, visitors can look across the Camel Estuary towards Padstow - a panoramic view that has long inspired painters, photographers, and daydreamers alike.

But perhaps the real draw of Daymer Bay is its tranquillity. The beach is protected within the estuary, making its turquoise waters unusually calm and shallow for this part of the coast.

Families paddle safely here, dogs roam freely all year round and paddleboarders glide over the glassy surface. The beach is also famous for its clean, gently sloping sands and its easy access to coastal walks.

"There's something very private about it," one visitor wrote in a Tripadvisor review.

"Calm, turquoise waters, shallow for a long way out - and the sand dune backdrop makes it feel like your own secret spot."

It's not unusual to find high-profile holidaymakers here, though part of Daymer's appeal is precisely that it doesn't flaunt its glamour.

"Properties here hold their value well and are in constant demand," says Josephine Ashby of John Bray Estates, which handles many of Cornwall's most exclusive coastal homes.

"Only one or two homes are sold each year, often off-market. Buyers love the idea of securing a property that's been quietly owned for generations."

Among the rare homes currently on sale are St Cuby - a detached four-bedroom house with a heated pool and panoramic estuary views, priced at £2.5 million - and The Cottage, a bright whitewashed home just steps from the sand, listed at £2.25 million.

The bay's handful of homes are often hidden behind dunes or set back among greenery, their owners preferring peace over preening. That has drawn comparisons to the Hamptons - the famously discreet seaside enclave on New York's Long Island.

For all its modern cachet, Daymer Bay also has a fascinating historical side. The area between Trebetherick Point and Rock Dunes has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and much of the bay itself is recognised by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust as a County Geology Site.

Beneath its sands lies a remarkable secret: a prehistoric submerged forest, visible only when tides and winds align. The ancient tree stumps and roots, sometimes revealed at low tide, date back more than four millennia - around 4000 BC. Alongside them, archaeologists have found seeds, snail shells and even animal bones, offering a glimpse into a world long buried beneath the dunes.

Just beyond the dunes, another piece of heritage lies hidden in plain sight. St Enodoc Church, sometimes called "Sinking Neddy" for its half-buried appearance in the sand, is one of Cornwall's most atmospheric landmarks.