Porthgwidden Beach

A short walk down from St Ives town centre gets you to Porthgwidden Beach, a proper little cove that somehow avoids the worst of the summer crowds despite being practically on the doorstep of one of Cornwall's busiest seaside towns. The beach itself is small - you can walk its length in five minutes - but that's rather the point. Golden sand, a few rocks to scramble around, and water that's actually swimmable during summer months without requiring a wetsuit thick enough for the Arctic.

Families with young kids do well here because it's sheltered from the Atlantic swell that pounds most other Cornish beaches, and the shallow water means toddlers won't get knocked sideways by unexpected waves. There's a decent cafe at the top with decent coffee if you've forgotten to bring your own flask, though prices are St Ives steep.

The walk down takes maybe ten minutes from the town's main drag. Go early morning or off-season if you want any semblance of peace - July and August get rammed with day-trippers. The beach is free, obviously, and accessible year-round.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks like Polmanter Touring Park or Haven Riviere Sands, Porthgwidden works as a morning beach stop before heading elsewhere for something with more space. It's good for what it is - a quick dip and a breather rather than an all-day commitment.