South Sands

The beach at South Sands stretches wide and golden, backed by low dunes and the kind of mild Devon sunshine that makes you forget it's England. It's a proper family beach - the sort where you can actually find space to put your towel down without shoulder-barging someone's windbreak. The water is clean and swimmable, with a gentle slope that means kids can wade out without immediately vanishing into the depths. There's a cafe at the top end if you've forgotten your packed lunch, though fair warning: it's Devon prices.

The best time is early morning or late afternoon when the day-trippers from Kingsbridge have drifted back inland. You'll get decent walks along the shoreline, and if the tide's out, there's enough sand to keep even restless children occupied for a solid couple of hours. The village itself is tiny - don't expect much beyond the essentials - but that's rather the point. It feels properly away from things.

If you're camped at Karrageen or Wilton Farm, this is your obvious local swim-and-splash spot. South Devon Camping is also close enough for a morning trip. There's no admission charge and no fancy facilities, which keeps the whole experience refreshingly low-key. Worth a half-day at minimum, longer if you're the type who actually enjoys sitting down and reading a book.