Trimley Shores

The shoreline at Trimley is where Suffolk's coast gets properly working-class, without the fairground nonsense or the townie sprawl. You get shingle beach, a modest stretch of it, and views across to Felixstowe's container port on the far side of the water - which sounds industrial until you realise it's oddly compelling to watch. The beach itself is free and accessible, the kind of place where locals actually come rather than tourists queuing for postcards.

It's decent for a few hours if you're based nearby at one of the holiday parks - Felixstowe Beach Holiday Park is just three miles down the road, or there's Cosy Camping Suffolk even closer if you want proper campsite facilities. The water's cold even in summer, but the shingle holds up better than sand during high tide, so you're not left with a thin strip at midday. Families with young kids might find it a bit exposed and windswept; older children and walkers will appreciate the straightforward, no-frills approach.

The area between Ipswich and Felixstowe doesn't get the attention the better-known Suffolk beaches do, which works in its favour - you won't fight crowds. Come on a clear day and the light's something special, all that reflected water off the estuary. It's not a destination beach, but if you're camping locally and want a bracing walk with views across the water, it does the job well enough. Worth the drive from Ipswich, perhaps. Definitely worth the five-minute wander if you're staying at one of the nearby parks.