Portavoe Beach

The beach at Portavoe is a quiet stretch of sand and shingle just outside Newtownards, the sort of place locals know and tourists often miss. You get proper views across the water - on a clear day you can make out the Copeland Islands - and the beach itself is wide enough that even in summer you won't feel crowded.

It's not dramatic. No cliffs, no fancy facilities, just a working beach where fishing boats come and go and families actually let their kids run about without signing a waiver. The sand is decent and stays relatively clean. Low tide reveals rock pools worth investigating if you've got young ones in tow.

The walk from the car park is easy - maybe ten minutes - which makes it manageable for anyone really, though there's not much shelter if the weather turns. Bring a windbreaker. You can walk the full length of the beach in about half an hour if you're so inclined, or just plant yourself on a patch of sand and watch the water for a bit.

It works brilliantly as a stop-off during a caravan holiday in the area, particularly if you're based at Dunroamin over in Millisle, which is just down the coast. Perfect for a quick splash about or a bit of air after being on the road. Don't expect theme park thrills or Instagram gold, but if you want somewhere genuine and unpretentious to spend an afternoon, Portavoe delivers. Worth the detour if you're already in North Down.