Pebble

The pebble beach at Exmouth stretches for miles along the Devon coast, and it's one of those places that grows on you the more time you spend there. Not sand - proper shingle that crunches under your feet and rolls back with every wave. The beach shelves quite steeply, which means the sea comes up fast, so watch the kids closely if you've got them in tow.

You'll find it busy in summer, naturally, but off-season it's genuinely peaceful. The light hits the water differently depending on the time of day, and the pebbles themselves are worth examining - smooth grey stones interspersed with flint if you're willing to crouch down and look. There's a promenade backing the beach with a handful of cafes and ice cream stands, though nothing fancy.

For families staying at Devon Cliffs Resort or Ladram Bay just down the coast, this is an easy half-day venture. Walkers will prefer the stretches either side of town where it's quieter and you can cover proper distance. History types might be underwhelmed - it's a working beach, not a heritage site - but it's the sort of place you pop back to repeatedly during a week-long holiday.

Free to access, obviously. Arrive early if you want decent parking near the seafront. Allow a couple of hours minimum, though many people end up staying longer once they've settled in with a coffee and a book.