Porthbeor Beach

The walk down to Porthbeor is steep and a bit punishing on the knees, but you're rewarded with one of those proper Cornish coves that feels properly tucked away. A sand and shingle beach ringed by tall cliffs, quiet even when other spots along this coast are rammed with families and surfers. The beach itself is small enough that you'll explore it in twenty minutes, but the setting is what stays with you - those dark cliffs rising up either side, the way the light changes across the water depending on the time of day.

It's a walk that suits fit families and serious beach walkers more than casual paddlers. If you've got older kids who don't mind a proper hike, they'll think it's brilliant. Toddlers and pushchairs won't thank you. The beach is accessed from the South West Coast Path, so you can string together a longer walk if you're staying in the area - Truro is the nearest proper town if you need supplies or a decent cup of tea afterwards.

If you're basing yourself at Trethem Mill Touring Park, this is a good half-day outing rather than somewhere to spend an entire afternoon. Go when the tide's out to get the full beach, and time it for late afternoon when the worst of the day-trippers have moved on. There's no infrastructure here - no cafes, no toilets - so sort yourself out beforehand.