National Trust - Porthcurno

The beach at Porthcurno is one of those rare Cornish coves that genuinely stops you mid-stride. A sweep of golden sand backed by granite cliffs, with the sea proper turquoise on a decent day - it's the sort of place that makes you understand why people move down here and never leave.

What makes it special is the Telegraph Museum tucked into the cliffside. During the First and Second World Wars, this spot was a vital hub for submarine cables linking Britain to the wider world. The underground tunnels and chambers are preserved much as they were, all concrete and period equipment, with staff who actually know what they're talking about. It's genuinely fascinating if you're into military history or Cold War stuff, though kids under ten might lose interest once they've crawled through a couple of passages.

You can walk straight down to the beach for free - that's the real draw. It's sheltered enough for swimming most days, with rock pools worth exploring if the tide's right. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're doing the beach properly, longer if you're tackling the museum tour. The café serves decent pasties.

It's only about forty minutes from Penzance, making it a solid half-day from either Lands End Camping & Glamping or Roselands Caravan Camping Park. The path down is steep in places - manageable but not pushchair-friendly - and there's limited parking, so go early if it's summer. The walk from the car park to the beach itself takes five minutes maximum.