Castle Beach

The castle itself is long gone, but the beach still carries the name - and it's one of Tenby's best-kept secrets. You get a proper slice of Pembrokeshire coastline here: golden sand backed by those distinctive red sandstone cliffs, rock pools that actually have things in them, and a manageable crowd even in summer. The beach sits just beyond Tenby's harbour, so it's walkable from the town centre if you don't mind a ten-minute stroll, or a quick drive if you're staying at Saltern Holiday Park just down the road.

Walkers love this stretch because the coastal path runs right past it, and families find it genuinely useful - the beach is sheltered, the sand is soft underfoot, and there's enough going on with the rocks and pools to keep children occupied for a couple of hours without them demanding the amusement arcade. Low tide reveals more of the foreshore, so timing matters. The cliffs are the real draw though; they change colour depending on the light, and photographers end up staying longer than planned.

It's free to access and open whenever you fancy, which is refreshingly straightforward. Tenby itself has facilities, so you won't be caught short for ice cream or a coffee. If you're basing yourself at Haven Kiln Park or any of the other caravan sites within a couple of miles, Castle Beach is genuinely worth the short trip - far less hectic than the main North Beach, and the scenery actually stays with you after you've gone home.