Basset's Cove

The walk down to Basset's Cove near Hayle is steep and takes about ten minutes, but the payoff is a proper hidden beach tucked away from the main tourist crush. You get golden sand, rock pools that are genuinely worth investigating, and enough space to breathe even in summer. The cove itself is small - you can cross it in five minutes - but that's rather the point. It's not a place to spend eight hours; it's a spot to drop in for an hour or two when you're exploring the Hayle coast.

Families with kids will enjoy the rock pooling, especially at low tide. The sand is decent for a quick build and dig, and the water's a decent temperature by August standards. If you've got teenagers who think beaches are boring, the scramble down might entertain them more than the actual cove. Walkers heading along the coast path will find it a nice variation - you can drop down, have a break, then carry on toward nearby spots rather than plodding along the clifftop the whole way.

Bring sturdy shoes for the descent. The path's well-trodden but uneven. Parking is limited and you'll need to leave your car near the cliff edge and walk from there. It's free to visit, naturally. If you're staying at Lanyon Holiday Park or Little Menherion Glamping, both are close enough for a morning visit without it eating up your whole day. Worth the detour, though don't expect solitude on a bank holiday weekend.