Hallsands North Beach

The shingle beach at Hallsands has a strange, haunting quality. What you're looking at is the aftermath of dredging in the early 1900s - tonnes of shingle were removed for building work, and the sea took its revenge. The village that once stood here is now mostly underwater, with just the odd brick and stone poking through at low tide. It's genuinely eerie stuff.

Walkers will find it worth the detour from Kingsbridge, about four miles south. The beach itself is all pebbles and stones - proper dramatic coastline with cliffs rising behind. You can walk along the shore and hunt for fragments of the lost village, which is oddly compelling in a morbid sort of way. The views back towards Start Point are decent too, especially on a clear day.

This isn't a family beach for buckets and spades. Kids might find the history interesting for twenty minutes, but they'll get bored quickly without safe swimming. It's more for walkers and history types who appreciate the darker stories the coast tells. Allow an hour to properly explore and take photographs.

Free to access, and there's parking nearby. The nearby Start Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite (2.4 miles away) makes a sensible base if you're camping in the area. Wilton Farm Camping is also close by. Visit at low tide if you want to see the most debris - the tide comes in fast here, so check timings beforehand. Not a cheerful spot, but definitely memorable.