Shipload Beach

The sand stretches out properly golden when the tide's out at Shipload Beach, near Bideford. You get the whole sweep of North Devon coastline from here - cliffs rising up behind, rock pools dotted along the shoreline if you fancy a poke about. It's the kind of beach that rewards arriving early, before the crowds tumble down from the car park.

Walkers will appreciate the approach. The coastal path feeds right into it, so you can string together a proper morning ramble if you're staying at one of the local parks. Families with younger kids do well here too - the beach shelves gently and there's enough going on with rock pools and sand to keep them occupied for a couple of hours. Just watch the tide though; it comes in faster than you'd think.

It's free, obviously. Come in late afternoon for the best light and fewer people, or early morning if you're an actual dawn person. Allow a solid two hours if you're combining it with a walk. During summer holidays it gets rammed by mid-morning.

If you're based at Coastal Cabins Glamping or Roeys Retreat just down the road, this makes a dead easy evening trip. It's not spectacular enough to be worth a dedicated drive from far away, but as part of a North Devon park holiday it pulls its weight. Good for stretching your legs between other attractions along the coast.