West Beach (Westbay)

Those towering red and yellow cliffs are impossible to miss from the moment you arrive in West Bay. The striped sandstone faces rise 150 metres straight up from the shingle beach, and yes, they do look exactly like the opening credits of Broadchurch. Worth knowing upfront: they're genuinely impressive, but the beach itself is fairly basic - working shingle, cold water, and strong currents that mean most people don't actually swim here.

What you're really here for is the walk along the base and the views from the cliff top. The undercliff path runs east towards Bridport and takes about an hour to Thorncombe Beacon - proper dramatic walking with the cliffs looming above. The cliffs themselves are unstable (rockfalls happen), so resist the urge to clamber on them. The prom behind the beach has a few cafes and fish and chip shops, plus a small museum if the weather turns grim.

Families with young kids get a couple of hours maximum from this. Walkers and photographers will happily spend half a day here, especially if you hike further along the coast path. Oddly, it's much better in winter when it's quieter and the light is sharper. Summer brings coachloads and nowhere to park.

It's free to visit and open year-round. You're barely three miles from Parkdean Resorts West Bay Holiday Park and equally close to Highlands End if you're basing yourselves nearby. Combine this with a proper beach day at West Bay proper (yes, there's a distinction) or push on to Symondsbury and the wider Jurassic Coast.