Porthluney Beach

Three miles of golden sand curve away from the car park at Porthluney, making it one of Cornwall's more generous beaches when the tide's out. The walk down from the clifftop takes about ten minutes - not too taxing, but you'll feel it on the way back up with tired children and beach kit in tow.

Families absolutely love this spot. The sand's proper soft, perfect for castle building, and the rock pools at either end keep curious kids occupied for ages. When the tide's in, there's still plenty of space, though it does get busy on sunny weekends - arrive early or you'll be circling the car park.

Dog walkers rate it highly too, especially out of season when the beach feels like your own private slice of coast. The South West Coast Path runs right above if you fancy stretching your legs with some proper Cornish clifftop views.

It's free, naturally, and you can easily spend half a day here if the weather's playing ball. The nearby holiday parks make it a convenient option - Tregarton Park and Treveague Campsite are both under two miles away, while families staying at Pentewan Sands will find it worth the short drive for a change of scene. Just remember to check the tides - low water reveals the beach at its spectacular best.