Mouth Mill Beach (Pebble)

You're looking at a proper shale beach that doesn't get the crowds of Westward Ho! just down the coast. Mouth Mill is exactly what it says - pebbles, lots of them, backed by low cliffs and accessed via a steep flight of wooden steps that'll make your calves complain on the way back up. The beach itself is narrow but dramatic, especially at high tide when the sea comes quite close to the cliff base.

This is walker territory rather than bucket-and-spade destination. The shale doesn't appeal to everyone - if your kids are expecting golden sand they'll be disappointed - but it's excellent for fossil hunting and rock pooling when the tide's out. The views along the Devon coastline are proper lovely, and you'll spot a lot fewer people than you would at the bigger beaches around Bideford.

The walk down takes five minutes, ten if you're taking photos. Allow an hour if you're serious about exploring the rock pools, though the beach itself empties quickly once you're past the main access point. Come on a midweek morning in shoulder season (May or September) and you might have it to yourself.

Stay at Roeys Retreat Campsite or Coastal Cabins Glamping - both are within a couple of miles and rated highly. The location works well as part of a wider North Devon beach hop, with Westward Ho! and Appledore within easy reach for when you want something more touristy.