Camber Sands

Three miles of golden sand stretches out from the Kent coast near Rye, backed by dunes that shift with the seasons. Camber Sands is the real deal - a proper working beach where families dig, swimmers wade into the shallows, and kitesurfers make the most of the wind when it's up. The sand is packed hard enough for buggies and easy walking, which counts for something when you've got young kids in tow.

It's busy in summer, no question about that. July and August bring the crowds, and the car parks fill quickly. Go in shoulder season - late May or September - and you'll find it far more manageable. Bring a windbreak; the dunes offer some shelter but the beach itself is exposed. Swimming is decent when the tide's out, revealing vast stretches of sand. The water's cold year-round, mind you.

Historically it's unremarkable, but that's not why you come. You come to walk, to let the kids run about, to watch the light change over the sea. It's straightforward seaside, without the pier entertainment of nearby towns. That's either its charm or its limitation, depending on what you want.

Staying at Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands puts you on the doorstep - genuinely, it's barely a walk away. Rye Harbour Holiday Park sits even closer. From either base, you can spend a morning on the sand and still be back for lunch. If you're combining it with Rye itself, the medieval town sits just three miles inland and makes a cracking contrast to a beach day.