Porthpean Beach

The beach at Porthpean is a proper cracking stretch of sand, tucked between Charlestown and Mevagissey on Cornwall's south coast. It's sheltered, which means the water's usually calmer than the more exposed beaches nearby - genuinely useful if you've got younger kids or you're not keen on getting battered by Atlantic swell.

What you get here is straightforward: a sandy cove, rockpools at low tide, and enough space to spread out even in summer. The approach is easy enough, though the car park fills quickly on decent days. There's a cafe right there if you've forgotten supplies, which beats trudging back to Charlestown.

Walkers will find the South West Coast Path runs through the area, so you can string together a longer walk if you fancy it rather than just plonking yourself on the sand for three hours. The rocks at either end reward a poke about, especially if the tide's out and you're into that sort of thing.

It's not the most dramatic Cornish beach - there's no soaring cliffs or sea stacks - but that's partly why it works. Families staying at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park or Tre-End Glamping nearby won't need to drive far, and the straightforward nature of it means you can waste a morning here without feeling like you've missed something grander. Allow a couple of hours minimum, longer if rockpooling's involved. Free to access, naturally.