Porthcurnick

The sand at Porthcurnick stretches wide and pale, backed by low cliffs that don't intimidate you the way some Cornish beaches do. It's a proper working beach - fishing boats nose up onto the shingle, locals know where to park, and there's a real sense this place hasn't been turned into a theme park version of itself.

Walking down, the beach opens up nicely. The sweep of it means you can find quiet patches even on decent days, and the water's clear enough that you'll actually want to get in rather than just wade about. Low tide reveals rockier stretches that kids seem endlessly entertained by, poking about for crabs and sea life. The cliffs behind are manageable for a ramble if you've got energy after a swim.

It's free, obviously - it's a beach. Allow a good few hours if you're a proper beach person; the orientation means you get sun most of the day. Summer weekends draw crowds, but come September or an off-season weekday and it feels like you've found something the guidebooks haven't mentioned.

Trethem Mill Touring Park sits just 1.3 miles inland, which is genuinely handy - you're ten minutes from the beach and still got proper caravan facilities. Veryan Camping up the road is rated brilliantly if you want something smaller and quieter. Either makes Porthcurnick an easy morning or afternoon slot in a broader Truro-area holiday without the faffing about with distant car parks.