North Down Bay Beach

The beach at North Down Bay stretches wide and welcoming, backed by dunes that shift with the seasons and proper coastal scrub that toughens up nicely in the wind. It's a nature reserve, which means the wildlife takes priority here - waders in winter, terns in summer, and if you're lucky, seals lounging on the rocks at low tide. The shoreline itself is rocky in places, sandy in others, with rockpools that'll keep children occupied for longer than you'd expect.

This isn't the place for sunbathing in a deckchair. It's about walking, watching, and occasionally getting properly windswept. Bring binoculars if you're into birds, or just come for a proper tramp along the shore. The nearest town is Newtownards, only a few miles inland, so you're not out in the middle of nowhere. If you're staying at Dunroamin Caravan Park in Millisle, it's under six miles away - easily reachable for a morning or afternoon visit.

Allow a couple of hours to do it justice, longer if you're a keen naturalist or photographer. The best time depends what you want to see - spring and autumn migrations draw serious birdwatchers. Winter brings storm surges that can be dramatic if you like dramatic. Summer is busier but the light's better and the sea's marginally less likely to kill you. Free to visit, naturally. You're not coming for facilities or cafes - you're coming for the bay itself.