Gunwalloe Beach

The sand here is proper golden, and the beach sits in a valley so steep you feel like you're descending into another world. Gunwalloe Beach, near Mullion in Cornwall, is one of those stretches of coast that rewards the effort - there's a car park at the top, but the walk down is steep enough that it filters out the day-trippers.

Once you're down there, it's excellent for families. The sand is wide and forgiving, the water's usually calmer than you'd expect given the exposed coastline, and there's a little stream that runs across the beach which kids lose hours to. The rock formations on either side are worth scrambling over if the tide allows, though watch your footing - it gets slippery.

The whole thing's free, as beaches are, and you can spend anywhere from two hours to a full day here depending on energy levels. Low tide gives you the most sand; high tide makes it cosier and more dramatic.

It's not the most famous Cornish beach, which works in your favour. You'll get crowds in August, but out of season it's wonderfully quiet. If you're staying at The Secret Garden Glamping just down the road, this is exactly the sort of walk that justifies a week away - a proper hidden corner of the coast rather than another postcard-perfect cove. Go when the sun's in the right place and the light on the cliffs is golden.