Croyde Beach

The beach at Croyde curves like a smile between two headlands, backed by dunes that shift with the seasons and a village that somehow hasn't gone completely mad with ice-cream shops. It's a proper surfer's beach - the waves roll in consistently, the sand is golden and packed hard enough to walk on without sinking, and the whole place has the feel of somewhere people actually choose to be rather than just pass through.

The village itself sits directly behind the beach, which means you're literally steps from a pint and chips. Braunton, the nearest town, is just a couple of miles inland if you need supermarkets or less beachy atmosphere. What makes Croyde work is that it stays relatively quiet even in summer - it's not Newquay, thank God - and the sand here doesn't disappear at high tide like some North Devon beaches do. You get a proper beach for the full day.

Surfers obviously own this place from autumn through spring when the Atlantic swells arrive, but it's equally decent for families and swimmers once you find your spot away from the breaks. The rock pools at the northern end are worth an explore, especially when the tide drops. Allow a full day if you're serious about it; half a day if you just fancy a swim and a walk along the shoreline. The nearby holiday parks - Golden Sands is genuinely well-reviewed if you're looking to base yourself here - put you within walking distance, which beats fighting for car park spaces.