Porthilly Cove

The beach at Porthilly curves gently between two rocky outcrops, sandy and wide when the tide drops. It's the kind of cove you stumble upon by accident while exploring Rock's quieter corners - no facilities, no crowds, just decent sand and rock pools when conditions allow. The walk down takes five minutes from the village, passing through scrubby coastal vegetation that opens suddenly onto the bay.

Families with young children will get a solid hour or two here at low tide, poking about in the pools and building castles on the flat sand. Older kids might find it a bit tame unless they're into exploring the rocks themselves, which can be slippery and awkward. Walkers treating it as a waypoint between Rock and the larger beaches further east will appreciate how it breaks up a coastal path nicely.

It's free and there's nowhere official to park right by it, so plan on leaving the car in Rock and walking. Go when the tide is out - high water and you've barely got a beach. The cove works well as a quieter alternative if Padstow Beach is rammed, and you're staying at Porthilly Beach Holiday Park, you're practically on top of it anyway. Worth a morning if you're based in the area, but don't plan your entire holiday around it.