Saundersfoot Beach

The beach at Saundersfoot stretches for half a mile of golden sand backed by low cliffs and a proper seaside promenade - the kind of place where you can actually spend a full day without running out of things to do. The sand is wide and reasonably clean, shelving gently into the sea, which makes it genuinely good for swimming rather than just paddling. There's a lifeguard presence in summer, which matters if you've got kids.

What makes Saundersfoot work as a base for a caravan holiday is the infrastructure. The beach itself is free to access, naturally. You get cafes and chip shops along the front, a funfair that comes alive in school holidays, and enough seaside clutter to keep families occupied for an afternoon. The promenade has proper facilities - toilets, showers, car parks - without the chaotic crush of places like Tenby just along the coast.

Historically this was a coal port, which explains why you'll spot the odd bit of industrial heritage dotted about, though these days it's pure holiday resort. Walkers might find the coastal path interesting enough, though it's more "nice walk" than spectacular.

Staying at one of the caravan parks within a mile or two - Swallow Tree Gardens is practically on the doorstep - puts you steps from the beach without being rammed into a seafront carpark. Summer weekends get busy, so May or September are smarter choices if you can manage it. Allow at least half a day here, more if the weather's decent and the kids are happy in the sand.