Rolston Sands

The stretch of sand and shale at Rolston Sands, just north of Hornsea, is one of those places that creeps up on you. You're not here for theme parks or fancy visitor centres - you're here for the raw East Yorkshire coast, where the sea has proper work to do carving away at the cliffs. The beach itself is a working study in coastal erosion, with exposed geological layers that tell you roughly what happened here over millennia. Geologists love it; families will find it pleasant enough for a walk and a paddle, though it's not a postcard beach by any stretch.

The real appeal is the walk. Head out along the sand and shale platforms, especially at low tide, and you get that genuine sense of treading somewhere most people can't be bothered with. The cliffs tower up behind you in bands of clay and chalk. It's austere rather than pretty, which feels honest for the North Sea coast.

This isn't a destination you build a holiday around on its own merits, but if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Sea View Country Park is barely a mile away, or Goxhill Meadows if you're after something more low-key - it's a solid addition to your itinerary. Allow two to three hours if you want to do the walk properly and explore the rockpools. Go when the tide's out. Wear decent shoes; the shale can be slippery when wet, and there's no sand to soften a slip. Best suited to walkers and anyone with a passing interest in geology rather than traditional seaside fun.