I visited a tiny UK island I'd never heard of before - and I can't wait to go back

If I'm being honest, being a Midlander and living far away from this part of the coast, I'd never heard of this tiny UK island before visiting - and what sad news that is.

With one road on and off, the island has retained much of its original look making it a scenic place to visit. Due to the logistics of reaching the island, it's not been ravaged by tourism and overcrowding.

It's a bright day, the sun is shining and the sky is blue as I drive over the bridge to reach Hayling Island. Driving around its quiet streets, it's like being abroad.

From the window, with the sea breeze blowing in, I see children fishing with their parents. To my left, I can spot the sea through the greenery and to my right, I see boats bobbing on the water.

Feeling like I'm on holiday, even just for a few hours, I've already decided I quite like the look of the island - but it's time to get out and explore the area by foot.

Along the seafront, there's not a huge amount there - but there's enough and the lack of too many shops and restaurants makes it even more peaceful.

There's a funfair which has an old-fashioned style, but it looks closed and there certainly aren't any people walking around it, let alone screaming from the rollercoaster. This is one section of the seafront where there's definite room for improvement.

Other than this, there's a small train which tourists can take along the beach, a fish and chip shop, a couple of cafes and a handful of shops.

Finding a place with not much around these days can be hard.

While I used to think it's better to have much more around, a smaller, more peaceful place is a winner for me now and Hayling Island is just that.

Located in Hampshire, just a 20-minute drive from Portsmouth - or a short ferry ride away - its slow pace of life with scenic views, empty beaches and blue skies make Hayling a much-loved home.

It feels like Hayling Island remains largely undiscovered by many Brits. For those not located within its reach, it's a place which appears to be forgotten about or overlooked.

I'm surprised it hasn't become more of a hotspot for Brits looking for a quiet, scenic getaway. I'm told that even people on the island question the same thing, especially considering its proximity to the capital.

Painted in a vibrant array of colours from pink to blue and yellow, locals sit and enjoy tea and biscuits in the sun with nearly the whole beach to themselves.

There's a hub of colourful beach huts available to purchase and if I lived any closer, I'd quite like to call one of them my own.

If you have a story, get in touch with me by emailing alycia.mcnamara@reachplc.com