Giggen Cove

The walk down to Giggen Cove takes about ten minutes from the clifftop car park, and it's properly steep in places - not dangerous, but you'll feel it in your thighs on the way back up. The reward is a small, sheltered beach tucked beneath red sandstone cliffs, the sort of place that feels like you've found something by accident rather than followed a guidebook. At high tide it shrinks to almost nothing, so timing matters. Low tide opens up a decent expanse of sand and rock pools that'll keep children occupied for hours if you're that way inclined. The cove sits just outside Looe, making it a straightforward drive from any of the holiday parks in the area - Killigarth Manor is barely half a mile away. Swimming is possible when conditions suit, though the rocky approach means water shoes are worth packing. This isn't a fancy beach with cafes or facilities. There's a car park at the top and that's largely it, which is either brilliant or a deal-breaker depending on your idea of a seaside afternoon. In summer it draws a steady trickle of visitors but never feels rammed. Early morning or late afternoon gives you the best chance of solitude. If you're based at Tencreek or any of the other parks nearby, it's worth the detour for an hour or so - particularly if you've got toddlers who need shallow water and rock pools, or if you're after somewhere quieter than the main beaches around Looe itself.