Pentireglaze Haven

The walk down to Pentireglaze Haven takes you through proper coastal woodland before the beach suddenly opens up - all golden sand and low cliffs striped like a geological timeline. It's a quiet stretch of North Cornwall coastline, the sort of place where you can actually hear the waves rather than competing with a hundred other visitors.

This is a swimmer's beach more than a lounger's beach. The sand shelves gently, which makes it decent for families paddling about, though the Atlantic swells can pick up depending on the swell direction. Low tide reveals rock pools worth poking around in if the kids are that way inclined, though don't expect anything exotic - mostly crabs and anemones.

The real draw is the space. Come on a summer morning and you might have half the beach to yourself. The cliffs provide a natural windbreak on blustery days, and there's something about the quieter Cornish beaches that makes you wonder why everyone's at Polzeath, which is only a short drive away.

Allow an hour or two depending on whether you're just swimming or settling in with a book. There's no cafe or facilities that I could find, so bring what you need. The nearest amenities are in New Polzeath, a short drive back. For a holiday park base, Porthilly Beach Holiday Park sits just 2.6 miles away and puts you within striking distance of this stretch without feeling rammed in with crowds. Well worth the detour if you're after a quieter corner of the North Devon-Cornwall coast.