Mullion Cove

The walk down to Mullion Cove takes about ten minutes from the car park, and it's properly steep on the way back up - fair warning if you've got dodgy knees. The cove itself is a tight horseshoe of sand and shingle backed by low cliffs, the sort of place where the sea feels genuinely close rather than just a backdrop. On a calm day it's almost sheltered; when the Atlantic's throwing its weight around, it's wild and dramatic.

It's a working fishing village, which matters. You'll see boats actually moored here, lobster pots stacked about, locals who know the tidal patterns better than most people know their own postcodes. There's a small café and shop right by the beach - handy for a pasty or a drink, though don't expect anything fancy. The cove gets busy in summer, but it never quite tips into chaos the way some Cornish beaches do.

Families with younger kids will get a good couple of hours out of it - the beach is manageable, rock pools are decent when the tide's out. Walkers should tackle this as part of the coastal path rather than as a destination in itself; the surrounding cliffs are the real draw. History types will appreciate that this corner of Cornwall has been worked for centuries, though there's not much visible evidence beyond the working boats.

Staying at The Secret Garden Glamping or Henry's Camp Site puts you within easy reach, and combining Mullion Cove with nearby Kynance Cove (a walk along the coast) makes a proper morning or afternoon. Free to visit, though parking costs.