Joss Bay

The chalk cliffs at Joss Bay rise up like a wall the moment you crest the dunes, dramatic and unexpected for the Kent coast. This is a proper seaside cove rather than the endless flatness you get further round towards Margate, and that sudden geography makes it feel a bit special.

The beach itself is shingle and sand, reasonably sheltered by those cliffs, which means on blustery days when everywhere else is getting hammered, you can still have a peaceful walk here. Swimming is possible if you're hardy, though the water temperature won't impress anyone from May onwards. It's a decent spot for pottering about and collecting shells, and the rock pools at low tide keep children occupied for a proper stretch.

Just inland at Birchington - barely five minutes away - there's plenty of the usual seaside infrastructure: fish and chips shops, ice cream stands, a bit of a promenade if you fancy something less remote. Birchington Vale Holiday Park sits close enough that families staying there could easily pop over for an afternoon without needing the car.

Don't come expecting dramatic walks or cliffside drama like you'd get at Thanet's other spots. This is more a gentle beach day - somewhere to breathe, throw a ball around, build a castle. It's free, obviously, and you can spend as little or as long as you like. The real draw is that those cliffs give it character Kent's flatter beaches simply don't have. Worth the detour if you're anywhere in the area.