Samphire Beach

The shingle beach at Samphire stretches out grey and honest, backed by the famous white cliffs that define this stretch of Kent coastline. You're looking at the English Channel proper here, with France visible on clear days - it's properly dramatic in that understated way the southeast does so well.

What you actually get is a working pebble beach with decent rock pools if the tide's right, and the kind of windswept appeal that appeals more to walkers than sunbathers. The shingle is relentless underfoot, so proper shoes are essential. Most people spend an hour exploring the pools and taking photos of the cliffs, then head back into Folkestone for lunch.

Families with young kids might find it a bit bleak - there's no shelter, no facilities, nothing to do once the novelty of the pebbles wears off. But if you've got teenagers or you're just after a bracing walk with a decent view, it's worth the trip. The clifftop path above offers better vistas anyway, and you can work off the bacon roll you grabbed in town.

It's free, obviously. Allow an hour unless you're serious about beachcombing. October to April feels right - fewer tourists, proper weather, the cliffs more dramatic under grey skies. If you're staying at Black Horse Farm just outside the town, Samphire makes a decent morning out before heading inland to explore the wider countryside.