Sennen Cove

The moment you crest the hill above Sennen Cove, you understand why people drive all the way out here. The beach stretches in a wide, golden arc from the cliffs at one end to the rocks at the other - proper dramatic stuff, especially when the Atlantic is kicking up. It's one of Cornwall's better swimming beaches, with a lifeguard presence in summer and reasonably consistent waves if you've got a board tucked in the car.

There's a decent car park right at the top, a cafe that does decent pasties and coffee, and a good beach bar where locals and tourists rub shoulders in the evening sun. The cove itself is split into sections - one end favours swimmers, the other the surfers, which keeps things civilised enough. The sand is soft underfoot and the beach shelves gently, so it's fine for younger kids who aren't strong swimmers, though you'll want to keep an eye on the tide here as it comes in proper fast.

Walkers will find a cracking clifftop path along both sides if you fancy stretching your legs beyond the sand. The walk back up to the car park is steep, mind you - nothing dramatic but noticeable if you've just spent four hours in the water.

It's absolutely rammed on sunny weekends and in school holidays. Come on a quieter weekday morning if you can, or late afternoon when families start heading back. Lands End Camping & Glamping sits just 1.2 miles away, and Roselands is barely further down the road, so you can base yourself nearby and have the beach to yourself before the day-trippers arrive.