Hoist Beach

The walk down to Hoist Beach takes you through a proper Devon valley, steep enough that your legs feel it on the way back up. Once you're there, it's a working beach - fishing boats, industrial heritage, the real thing rather than postcard pretty. The sand's decent, backed by low cliffs, and on a clear day you get good views along the coast towards Plymouth.

It's the kind of place families with older kids will actually enjoy rather than endure. Younger ones might tire of it quickly, but anyone keen on coastal history or just wanting somewhere less rammed than the main beaches will find it worth the trek. The cliffs offer a bit of shelter when the wind picks up, which it often does down here.

Free to access, though parking can be tight. Allow a good two hours if you want time to properly explore and grab a swim. Go early morning or late afternoon to dodge the midday crowds - not that there are many.

Stay at Hidden Hill or South Devon Camping nearby and you've got a proper seaside base. Both are top-rated and close enough for a half-day beach trip without the drive feeling like a drag. The spot works well alongside other South Devon coastline - you can string a few beaches together and make a proper day of it. It's honest Devon coastline, not Instagram-filtered, and that's exactly why it's worth knowing about.