Perranporth

It’s the beach everyone raves about and billed as a great place for surfing, snorkelling, sailing and generally splashing around.

So, what’s the attraction? Well, the miles of really golden sand are probably a good start, plus the huge surf, the sand dunes etc. etc. Yes, it’s a pretty impressive place. Starting from the village, it’s easily accessible which is ideal if you’ve got young ones in tow and you could just plonk yourself on the sand close to the village, put down your beach towels and relax. There’s a selection of cafes and bars close by, serving snacks and drinks throughout the main holiday seasons. If the tide’s right out, do the place justice and have a walk up the beach to Ligger Point, just a 2-mile jaunt away.

Because the beach is so huge, it almost feels as if you have the place to yourself and the fresh air off the ocean is exhilarating. Early morning you’ll probably see a few horses and their riders having a paddle in the surf and there’s a welcome cafe for a coffee stop halfway along. You can make the return journey (or if the tide’s in) over the extensive sand dunes which are teeming with wildlife, taking pictures of butterflies and lizards.