Warren Long Beach

The beach at Warren stretches for a proper mile of golden sand backed by low cliffs, just south of Bude. It's the kind of place where you can actually breathe - far less hectic than Summerleaze, the main beach in town, yet with decent swells when the Atlantic's up.

What you get here is space. Lots of it. Families with small kids appreciate the gentler approach to the water at the southern end, while surfers and body-boarders head north where the breaks are more reliable. The sand holds well at low tide, so building castles isn't a write-off. High tide does compress things, but that's never been a reason to leave.

Walkers will find the cliff path on both sides worth exploring - nothing dramatic, but pleasant enough for an hour's ramble either direction. The rock pools reward a closer look, especially if you catch the tide right.

Wooda Farm Holiday Park sits just 2.3 miles away, making Warren an easy evening stroll or morning dip from your caravan. Atlantic Horizons, the glamping outfit at 5 miles out, gives you a quieter base if you'd rather skip the campsite buzz and still have beach access within ten minutes' drive.

Go when the Atlantic swell's forecast low if you're not a confident swimmer - the northern stretch can get choppy. Summer weekends pull crowds, but midweek in shoulder season, you'll wonder why you didn't book here instead of fighting for space elsewhere.