Mundesley beach

The cliffs here rise up sharp and sudden - proper dramatic for Norfolk, where the landscape usually keeps itself rather flat and understated. Mundesley's a working beach, not some sanitised resort affair. You get the real thing: a pebble and shingle strip with those distinctive crumbling cliffs towering above, and on a decent day the light off the water is genuinely worth stopping for.

It's the kind of place that rewards a long walk rather than a quick visit. Families do well here - there's enough space to spread out, and the water's calm enough for paddling when the mood takes. Older kids won't get bored if you're keen on geology or just hunting for shells and sea glass. The cliffs themselves tell you everything about Norfolk's coastline - that slow, relentless erosion is written right into the earth.

There's a village here with a few basic amenities, which beats some Norfolk beaches that leave you stranded. Free to access, naturally. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're actually going to make something of it rather than just standing there for fifteen minutes wondering why you came.

If you're staying at Two Mills or Manor Caravan Park - both five miles inland - this makes a proper half-day outing. The drive's straightforward, and honestly, after a day at the caravan, a walk along the beach and a blustery bit of fresh air does wonders. Best visited outside peak summer unless you fancy navigating crowds.