Fisherman's Cove

The shingle beach at Fisherman's Cove sits tucked into the Devon coastline near Kingsbridge, and it's the sort of place that rewards getting your feet wet before you've even checked the tide times. It's small - you can walk its length in about five minutes - but that's precisely why locals don't bang on about it much. The cove itself is sheltered and manageable, with gentle slopes that make it decent for families who want their kids actually entering the water rather than screaming at the edge. Low season it's practically yours alone.

There's not much in the way of facilities, which is either brilliant or rubbish depending on your outlook. No beach huts, no ice cream van, just the sea and the occasional fisherman (you've been warned by the name). This means you'll need to sort yourself out beforehand - pack water, pack snacks. The surrounding cliffs are modest enough that older kids could scramble about without too much fuss, and the walking's decent if you fancy heading further along the coast.

If you're based at Karrageen Caravan & Camping Park just three miles away, you've landed well. The cove works as a quiet alternative to the busier South Devon beaches further east, particularly if you time it right around school holidays. Allow an afternoon rather than a full day - it's intimate rather than sprawling. The real draw is the relative peace and the feeling you've actually found something rather than just rocked up to where everyone else is doing beach by numbers.