Porthallow Beach

The beach at Porthallow is a proper working fishing village affair - boats actually land here, nets get mended on the slip, and the smell of the sea mingles with diesel and salt. It's small, sheltered, and feels like the sort of place Cornish people go rather than tourists, though word's getting out.

There's a sandy cove that fills and empties with the tide, backed by stone cottages that lean toward the water as if they might topple in any moment. Low tide reveals rock pools worth poking about in - crabs, anemones, the usual suspects - but this isn't a destination beach for lounging about all day. Come for an hour, maybe two. Walk up the coastal path toward Falmouth if you want to stretch your legs properly.

The real draw is the atmosphere and the fact it hasn't been bulldozed into a holiday resort. The Ship Inn sits right at the waterfront and does decent fish and chips. Parking's tight but manageable if you go early or off-season.

If you're staying at The Secret Garden Glamping nearby, Porthallow makes a lovely morning or afternoon visit - close enough not to require a full expedition but different enough from the main beaches round here to feel like you've found something worth finding. It's best at low tide when the sand opens up, and absolutely stunning at sunset if the light cooperates. Just don't expect to have it to yourself on a summer weekend.