Aberporth beach

The beach at Aberporth curves gently into Cardigan Bay, backed by low cliffs and a scattering of holiday homes that somehow don't ruin the mood. It's a proper working beach - fishing boats still launch from here, which gives the place an authenticity you won't find at the polished resorts further east. The sand is decent, the water cold but swimmable in summer, and at low tide you get a decent stretch to spread out on.

Walkers will find this spot more rewarding than sunbathers. The coastal path sweeps both directions - head north towards Penbryn or south towards Tresaith and you're onto proper scenery. The village itself is low-key: a couple of cafes, a shop, nothing fancy. That's rather the point. It's the kind of place families come back to year after year because it's uncomplicated and does what it does without fuss.

Aberporth works best as a half-day stop rather than a destination in itself. If you're staying at Llety Caravan Park just down the road, or any of the other parks dotted within five miles - Tŷ Gwyn, Brynawelon, Mwnt - you've got an easy escape route. The beach is free to access and there's no formal opening hours; you roll up when it suits. Give yourself two to three hours: a swim, a walk along the tide line, a coffee afterwards. That's the Aberporth formula, and it works.