Porthcurno

The moment you round the coastal path and see Porthcurno properly, you understand why it made the shortlist for best beaches in Cornwall. A vast crescent of golden sand drops between towering granite cliffs, and the water is properly turquoise on a good day - no filters needed.

It's a working beach, mind. The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum sits up top if you fancy learning how this cove became crucial to global communications in the 1800s, though it's a separate visit with its own admission. Most people come for the swimming and sunbathing. The sand stays reasonably clean, and there's enough space that even in summer you're not wedged hip-to-hip with other bodies.

Walkers should clock the coastal path - you can hike along the cliffs in either direction and it's genuinely lovely, though bring proper shoes. Families work well here too. Rockpools appear at low tide, and the sheltered feel means younger kids don't get knocked about by the swell on calmer days.

Park nearby at Lands End Camping & Glamping, just 2.6 miles away, or Roselands near Penzance if you want a quieter base. Allow two to three hours to do it justice. The beach can get hammered in peak summer afternoons, so morning visits are smarter. It's only ten minutes from Penzance, so easily combined with that town for supplies or a proper meal if the beach cafes aren't your thing.