Carlyon Bay Beach

The beach sweeps in a proper crescent of golden sand, backed by low cliffs and a scattering of beach huts that wouldn't look out of place in a 1950s postcard. Carlyon Bay, just outside Par, is the kind of Cornish strand where families spend entire days without feeling they've missed anything vital. The water's decent for swimming when the tide's right, and there's enough sand to keep kids occupied for hours building castles or hunting for shells. The bay itself is sheltered enough that even on windier days it stays manageable. This isn't the dramatic, jagged coastline you get further west - it's softer, more accessible, which is exactly why it works so well as a base for a park holiday. East Crinnis Holiday Park sits less than a mile away, making it a five-minute walk to the sand. Par Sands is another option if you want to be closer to town for fish and chips runs. The beach doesn't require much planning. Rock pools appear at low tide and hold small fish and anemones if you're patient enough to look. There's a café nearby serving the usual suspects. Allow two to three hours if you're combining it with other activities, though families with younger children often end up staying longer than expected. Best visited outside school holidays if you want space, though even then it fills up in summer. It's not showy or dramatic, but it's reliable - the sort of beach you'd actually return to, rather than ticking off a list.