North Beach

North Beach curves along Tenby's seafront like a proper crescent, and it's the sort of place where you can understand why Victorians decided this bit of Pembrokeshire was worth building a town around. The sand is wide and golden when the tide's out, backed by coloured cliffs that photographers can't resist, particularly in afternoon light. You'll find the usual beach setup here - deckchairs, ice cream vans, families with windbreaks - which means it gets rammed in peak summer but clears considerably once September arrives.

What makes it work is the sheer accessibility. There's a promenade running the length of it, cafes spilling out onto the sand, and enough rock pools at low tide to keep children occupied for hours without them demanding much else. The water's cold year-round - this is Wales - but it's the sort of beach where people actually swim rather than just paddle. The walk up to the castle ruins above adds another dimension if you've got the legs for it.

If you're staying at Saltern Holiday Park just down the road, or any of the caravan sites dotted nearby like Haven Kiln Park, you could spend a solid morning here and still have energy for exploring the harbour or grabbing fish and chips from one of the excellent spots in town. It's not dramatic or wild - for that, you'd head further along the coast - but it's reliable, unpretentious, and does exactly what a family beach should.