Greenaway Beach

Greenaway Beach sits just outside Polzeath, a proper little cove that doesn't get mobbed the way some of Cornwall's more famous stretches do. It's a working beach - fishing boats still use it, which gives the place a genuine feel rather than the sanitised holiday-postcard vibe you get elsewhere along this coast.

The beach itself is smallish, backed by cliffs and accessible via a steep path down. Sand and shingle mix, golden when the sun hits it right. Low tide reveals rock pools that keep kids entertained for hours, and the backdrop of red sandstone cliffs adds real character. It's the kind of place where you actually see locals rather than just tourists.

Walkers will appreciate the coastal path access - you can link it to longer stretches heading towards Padstow if you fancy a proper ramble. Families with young children should time it for low tide if they want proper beach space; high water crowds it considerably. Bring a windbreak because the exposure can be brutal in anything more than a breeze.

Staying at Porthilly Beach Holiday Park, just 1.8 miles away, makes Greenaway a natural choice for a day out without the drive. St Minver Holiday Park at 2.5 miles works equally well if you want something quieter. Neither requires booking months ahead like the bigger parks do.

It's not dramatic or famous, but that's rather the point. Go if you want actual Cornish beach life rather than the Instagram version.