Downas Cove

The approach to Downas Cove is what gets you. You park near Helston and walk down a proper coastal path with the land dropping away on your right - the kind of walk that reminds you why you came to Cornwall in the first place. The cove itself is small and tucked beneath high cliffs, with a narrow strip of sand that disappears completely at high tide.

This is a beach for people who actually want to swim, not photograph themselves. The water here is cleaner than many of the busier stretches along the coast, and the sheltered position means it's swimmable even when other beaches are getting hammered by Atlantic swell. Families appreciate the relative quiet, though there's bugger all in the way of facilities - no cafes, no loos, no ice cream van. Bring what you need.

Walkers will find it a natural loop destination from Helston. Allow a good hour for the walk down and back, plus time to sit about. The cove itself doesn't demand hours - it's a place to swim, dry off, and move on. Geology enthusiasts will spot interesting layered rocks in the cliff face, though nothing that'll keep you entertained if you're not into that sort of thing.

Henry's Camp Site sits four and a half miles away, making Downas Cove an excellent half-day excursion if you're based there. Go mid-morning, swim, and you're back for lunch. Honestly, it's the walk that's the real attraction here - the cove itself is the bonus at the end.