Praa Sands

Three miles of golden sand that actually feels properly wild - Praa Sands doesn't have the manicured feel of some Cornish beaches. Walk out onto the dunes and you'll understand why locals keep quiet about this stretch. The beach itself curves generously, backed by low cliffs and rough grassland, and the sand has real character to it, shifting with the Atlantic swells that make it popular with surfers. You can walk for ages here without feeling crowded, which in summer is increasingly rare in Cornwall.

It's the kind of place families come to build things and forget the time. Rockpools dot the shore at low tide, and the approach from the car park takes you through coastal scrub that feels authentic - no promenade, no sea-front cafes, just access and then the beach. The walk takes ten minutes at most. If your kids are past the toddler stage and you want them properly exhausted, this works well.

Walkers will appreciate the wider coastal path too. Praa Sands sits between Rosudgeon and Mousehole, meaning you can string together longer routes if you fancy it. There's genuine exposure here in winter - the wind comes off the sea unimpeded - so pick your weather.

Stay at Foxglove Field Glamping just down the coast and you've got something special. It's close enough for a dawn beach walk before breakfast, far enough that you don't hear the car park noise from your tent.