Today

Discover the coastal hotspots of the future and buy a beautiful home now before prices rockets, says Amanda Riley-Jones.

Do you fancy escaping somewhere with more space, clean air, an outdoor lifestyle and gentler place? Perhaps you dream of a house with huge windows framing the Atlantic or wish that your children could spend weekends surfing waves instead of the internet? You're in good company, but with prices set to rise in established coastal areas how can you buy in the next Rock or Southwold and stay ahead of the game? Shrewd buyers need to widen their search to include less fashionable locations tipped to become the coastal hotspots of the future.

"Over the past 10 years there has been consistently high growth in most of the Cornish areas and the Isle of Wight," says Lucian Cook, Residential Research Director at Savills. "It's worth looking at areas close to existing hotspots that offer similar attributes We see west Somerset and the north Devon coast as good potential, also areas along the Kent coast. Local knowledge is key, so talking to agents who know the area well is vital."

Richard Addington, of the Exeter office and acknowledged Savills surf expert, agrees: "The next hotspot will be the stretch of north Devon coastline from Braunton up to Woolacombe. In 10 years' time Croyde will be the new Rock." The upward trend has already started purely on the back of surfing, which has become a sport with mainstream appeal. These areas are set to rocket, especially now that the new bypass gives access to Croyde without going through Barnstaple.

A quick glance at the map reveals what's so special about this area. Just north of the Exmoor National Park, most of the 80-mile coastline is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Croyde itself has a good sandy beach, a buzzy surf scene and is near National Trust land.

"Two years ago we sold an immaculate three-bedroom seafront apartment in Mortehoe, near Croyde and Woolacombe, for £450,000," says Addington, "but prices are going to soar." His top tip? "I shouldn't really be telling everyone, as there are only about five houses there, but Putsborough is charming and probably has the best beach in Devon. It's fabulous for sunset barbeques and is never crowded.

Richard Addington, Savills: "In 10 years' time Croyde will be the new Rock."

"North Devon is how many people think the countryside should be, unspolit with wide open spaces, not too many people and a beautiful coastline," he continues. The north is ideal for surfing and the south offers fantastic sailing. Also, improved transport links and the regeneration of town centres are fairly solid indicators that prices will soon start to rise.

In Scotland’s Kingdom of Fife the peninsula between St Andrews and Lower Largo is remarkably unspoilt. While the university and golfing scene have driven prices up in St Andrews, a necklace of coastal 'burghs' edging the Firth of Forth offers more for your money. "If I had to choose one up-and-coming area, it would be Elie," says Jamie Macnab, Savills Head of Agency in Scotland. "It's a magical place with a wonderful beach, picturesque harbour, well-known golf course and famous Ship Inn where locals organise cricket on the beach. Increasing numbers of people from Edinburgh and Glasgow are buying second homes here." But there are still bargains to be found in nearby Upper Largo, which is near to golf courses and has a shorter journey time into Edinburgh. A beachfront fisherman's cottage there costs £400,000. In Elie, it would go for a million.

Despite its pretty harbour adorning a thousand biscuit tins, the village of Crail still offers fairly reasonable property and is popular with professionals commuting into Dundee and Edinburgh. "In 2004 we sold a seven-bedroom old merchant’s house for £495,000 and a coastal cottage went for a premium above the asking price of £290,000," says Macnab. "It had an extraordinary setting on the promontory. You could see the sea at all four points of the compass."

Norfolk's secrets
On Britain’s east coast the traditional seaside town of Cromer is showing signs of becoming another hotspot. The north west Norfolk coastline, with desirable locations such as Brancaster, Burnham Market, Wells-next-the-Sea and Blakeney, is well established. So now interest appears to be spreading further east along the coast to Weybourne and Cromer whose fortunes seem to be going full circle. In Edwardian times, they were the height of fashion and attracted large numbers of wealthy visitors. Gradually, as Britons chose to holiday overseas, some took on a shabby, neglected air and property prices reflected this. But all these towns are showing signs of a reversal of fortune, as Louis de Soissons of Savills Norwich explains: "Cromer's seafront has been regenerated and we have two new smart restaurants catering for the influx of people who want to eat well. You can still get a three-storey Victorian house on the seafront for around £650,000 but I'm sure that demand will continue to push prices up."

In scenic Sheringham you'll find tempting delicatessens, craft shops, restaurants and an art gallery. A 1930s detached house with indoor swimming pool and immaculate lawns is currently on the market for £645,000. "You get more for your money at Weybourne, the last of the pretty brick and flint villages before Sheringham and Cromer," says de Soissons. "It has good beaches, easy access to Gresham’s public school and various smart shops, including Bakers and Larners, Norfolk's answer to London's Fortnum and Mason. A six-bedroom brick and flint house, with a further three bedrooms in a guest cottage, is on the market for £700,000.

De Soissons recently sold a cottage in High Kelling, the next village in from Weybourne, for a little over the asking price of £365,000. The owners secured a charming three-bedroom brick and flint semi-detached house, with a stream and artist’s studio in the half-acre garden.

Searching for space
Apart from Fife, north Devon and Norfolk there are many other coastal gems to be unearthed, from Cornwall, Kent and Sussex to Yorkshire and Northumberland. So what is driving this urban drift to the coast? "Ours is an overcrowded island and people are seeking space," says de Soissons. "Thanks to restrictive planning policies and organisations like the National Trust, we've done a good job of preserving our coastline."

Kate Turner and her family have just moved from Berkshire to a village near the north Norfolk coast. They live in a farmhouse dating back to the 13th century and have a ruined priory in their four-acre grounds. She says, "We discovered this area through having a business nearby and decided we wanted to move to the sea. My husband has a global role and commutes to London a couple of days a week and the children, who are teenagers, go to a good public school nearby. The countryside is really pretty. We have everything from lush woodland and National Trust land to idyllic beaches. The house is only about four minutes from the sea and I walk our dog, Lizzie, on the beach every evening."

Five more areas to watch
From local investment to new travel and even fabulous surf, there are key pointers that can lead you to up and coming coastal areas.

East Sussex coast
Hastings and St Leonards in East Sussex could be starting to shake off their run-down images. Just 60 miles from London, and with William the Conqueror's castle for a backdrop, Hastings is showing signs of revival thanks to planned investment of more than £14m over the next seven years. Pick up a seaview penthouse for £240,000.

Suffolk
Suffolk is favourite for buyers wanting quick and easy access to Europe. Tom Orford, Savills Ipswich, says Lowestoft, north of Southwold, is worth a look: "It was a thriving fishing town but has fallen on poor times and the classic Victorian architecture is looking rather sad. At the moment values are low in comparison to its expensive neighbours. However, Suffolk Coastal District Council is investing a lot of money in the town in the hope of rejuvenating the area, so prices could become more bullish."

Northumberland
Despite the wide open spaces and magnificent coastline, Northumberland has been one of Britain's most overlooked regions. However, Berwick-upon-Tweed is developing a trendy seaside image and commuters from Edinburgh are pushing prices up to around £350,000 for a three-bedroom townhouse.

West Cornwall
"It's only a matter of time before the housing market in Penzance is triggered," says Jonathan Cunliffe of Savills Cornwall. "We have beautiful countryside, Michelin star restaurants, a train line direct to London and a huge amount of Georgian and Regency architecture. A four-storey Georgian house with seaviews is on for £550,000. In many other towns in west Cornwall you'd pay £700,000 for the same property." Plans for a residential marina development with 200 to 300 berths is close to getting the green light.

Yorkshire
Ben Pridden, Head of Residential Sales at Savills York, recommends the fishing villages of Staithes and Sandsend, close to Whitby. "They offer it all – beaches, fishing, sailing and easy access to the North Yorkshire moors," says Pridden. "Sandsend is also a top surfing spot. Due to lack of supply and high demand, prices are likely to rise. You can still buy a Grade II listed two or three-bedroom terraced cottage in Staithes for £300,000 and we sold a nearby three-bedroom converted farmhouse, with a cottage, for £675,000."

This article originally appeared in Savills' Autumn 2007 magazine. For more information about Savills, visit www.savills.co.uk.