Comment: Britain’s poshest seaside retreats ‘more expensive than St Albans’

In case the weather left us in any doubt, the huge numbers of pink shoulders and questionable fashion statements currently on display throughout Herts confirm that summer is most definitely here.

This means holiday plans are being finalised, and for those of us not lucky enough to own a seaside retreat, it may mean paying quite a lot to rent out someone else’s spare home.

Yes, we definitely do like to be beside the seaside – which is great news for folk lucky enough to own a second property on the coast.

The school holiday premium is ramped up to the max in August, and we’re paying double what we would be during summer term time for a week in Devon.

We’re not alone – and for second home-owners – and those who live by the sea full time but don’t plan to move locally – this has got to be a good thing, right? Well, mostly.

The average price of a property in Britain’s most expensive seaside town, Sandbanks in Poole, is £626,553, followed by Salcombe in Devon (£577,591) and Aldeburgh, East Anglia (£535,872).

This means these places cost more than our famously unaffordable Cathedral city of St Albans, where the average home cost £517,197 in April, according to the Office for National Statistics.

It’s not all good, though – homes in both the top two towns have dropped in value in the past year by £37,000 (Sandbanks) and £52,702 (Salcombe).

Like most things property-related, if you’re looking for a bargain you need to start looking a long, long way from London. Nine of the 10 least expensive seaside towns are in Scotland and one is in Northumberland, and they all boast properties changing hands for bargain basement prices between £81,233 (Millport) and £101,118 (Dunoon).

The weather is unlikely to be as toasty up there, mind, but at that price we could get used to it. Scottish seaside, anyone?