Pagham Beach

The shingle beach at Pagham curves away east towards Bognor Regis like a long grey smile, backed by a proper working harbour where fishing boats still tie up. You can walk the whole length of it in under an hour, past the lifeboat station and out towards Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve - that's the draw for most visitors.

It's not a sandy beach. The shingle shifts underfoot, gets into everything, and yes, you'll need decent shoes. But that's partly why it stays quieter than the tourist hotspots further along the coast. Families with young kids might find it a bit wearing - the pebbles aren't forgiving - but older children and walkers will have the space to actually breathe.

The harbour itself is the main attraction. Bird watchers come for the terns and oystercatchers. The coastal path is solid, particularly heading north where you get sightlines across the water towards Chichester. You can spend a morning here without paying a penny - it's all free access.

Given you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Haven Church Farm is barely a ten-minute walk away - this works as a proper morning sortie. Don't expect arcades or ice cream vans. There's a café by the car park that's serviceable but nothing to write home about. The real value is in the quiet. If you're after the full deckchair experience, head to Bognor's main beach instead. But if you want a working bit of the coast that doesn't feel manufactured, Pagham delivers.