Dunraven Bay

The cliffs here drop straight into the sand, and at low tide you've got a proper stretch of beach to explore. Dunraven Bay, just outside Porthcawl, feels quieter than the main seafront - fewer arcades, fewer crowds, more actual beach. The bay itself is sheltered by those dramatic red sandstone cliffs, which means the water can be surprisingly calm even when it's rough elsewhere along the coast.

You can walk the full length of the shore when the tide's out, poking around the rock pools or just stretching your legs without tripping over deckchairs. The cliffs are worth a look too - they've got some decent geology on show, all those layers of stone. Kids will spend ages hunting for crabs and shells, though older walkers might prefer the cliff-top paths that run behind the bay. There's a car park right at the beach entrance, which is a relief.

It's free to access, and you can stay as long as you fancy - an hour's enough for a solid beach walk, three hours if you're the type to settle in with a book. Come in summer and it's busy but manageable. Autumn and winter are practically yours alone. If you're staying at Trecco Bay Holiday Park down the coast, this makes an easy morning out without the Porthcawl madness. Bring proper shoes for the rocks and check the tide times before you head down - getting cut off isn't fun.