Picture the scene – azure blue water, sunshine blazing down, white gold sands, and the place almost to yourself.

Sounds like paradise? Well, you’d be right. Calabria, on the southern tip of Italy, has some of the best beaches in the entire country, if not the world.

Believe me when I say this coastline more than rivals that of the Amalfi coast. The Tyrrhenian Sea is simply stunning, and with views out to Stromboli, the huge and still active volcano just off the coast, not to mention pretty villages and towns which are all across the shoreline a day on the beach here just cannot be beaten.

Even at the start of October the turquoise water holds enough warmth for the sea to be incredibly inviting and is so clear you can see right to the bottom.

Utterly hypnotic and idyllic. Another benefit of the many of the beaches in Calabria… they’re free to use.

Over recent years, even Italians themselves have been turning their backs on their country’s beaches in what is believed to be a rebellion against the high prices people are charging to use the privately owned spots of seaside heaven.

For many years, heading to the beach and renting a chair or cabin has been factored into the cost of holidays in Italy but now it seems the locals have had enough.

However, my experience in Calabria with Great Rail Journeys could not be more different. Yes, some of the beaches are privately owned by hotels but many have free access to all.

I was staying in Tropea, recently voted Italy’s most beautiful town (and it’s easy to see why) and even there access to the beach, with its azure water and white gold sands, is free.

The same applies in gorgeous places like Pizzo and Scilla and right across the Calabrian coast. I couldn’t resist several dupes into the Tyrrhenian Sea and it was absolute heaven.

However, these is one issue people need to be aware of when planning their own adventure at the beach – the steps.

The Calabrian coastline might have some of the best beaches but these are often at the foot of huge cliffs into which the idyllic towns and villages are built. This does mean an excursion to the stunning blue water comes with a big climb down – and back up.

So, if you’re planning a trip to the beach in Calabria, make sure you’re wearing both sensible shoes and don’t use all your energy swimming in the stunning water. But I can promise you, it’s more than worth it.