East Looe Beach

Proper golden sand stretches between the harbour wall and the rocky outcrop that separates East from West Looe - and it's the better of the two beaches by a country mile. The sand here stays firmer underfoot, making it brilliant for building sandcastles or playing beach cricket when the tide's out.

Families absolutely love this spot because the harbour wall provides natural shelter from westerly winds, and the water stays relatively calm. Rock pooling enthusiasts will find plenty to explore around the edges, though the main appeal is simply having a good stretch of sand that doesn't disappear completely at high tide like so many Cornish beaches.

Parking can be a right nightmare in summer - the narrow streets of Looe weren't designed for holiday traffic. Your best bet is arriving early morning or late afternoon. The beach gets busy but never feels overcrowded, partly because it's more spacious than West Looe's cramped offering.

It's free to use, obviously, and you can easily spend half a day here if the weather's playing ball. Kids will be happy for hours, especially if you bring buckets and spades. The walk from the main car parks takes about five minutes through the old town.

Staying at nearby Tencreek Holiday Park or Waterside Tregoad makes this an easy daily option, though most Cornwall visitors end up here at least once during their stay.