What’s your idea of beach heaven?

What’s the most essential ingredient for a great summer holiday? Many would argue that it’s the beach.

We’re lucky that the West Country is blessed with some of the finest – and cleanest – beaches in the UK. We think they should stay that way, so we’re proud to support the Marine Conservation Society.

Carbis Bay, North Cornwall

There are beaches to suit every preference, from secret coves to expanses of surf-washed sand. We decided to ask our followers on Twitter and Facebook for their recommendations.

On Twitter, @TISJOU (Julie R from Hampshire) said: “When we visit Cornwall kids like to visit Crackington Haven - nice little beach and they love the rock pools there!”

@dineathome (Trevor Bayfield) reckons for one of the best surfing beaches in a south west gale, Kennack Sands is hard to beat.

@bigmarv99 recommends Slapton Sands, with “a beautiful beach and good coffee at Seabreeze Cafe.”

@101polly (Polly Crossman) says “Daymer Bay on the Camel Estuary at low tide on a sunny day is unbeatable (but round the corner away from the crowds!)” Good local knowledge there!

And @chapelstcottage (Devon) likes “Hartland quay because it's so rugged, and Peppercombe or Bucks mills as so remote.”

Bigbury on Sea, South Devon

We asked the same question on Facebook, and got some more really helpful tips:

Alison Wright nominated two beaches: "Blackpool Sands in Devon for a beautiful horse-shoe beach, very easy flat access and close parking, and the most brilliant (licensed) beach cafe ever. Also Porthcurno Beach at the end of England - near to Sennen Cove. Again great beach cafe, very large beach so lots of things always going on!" 

Angie Wright also commented, recommending "Wembury Beach, lovely rock pools, great sand, lovely views and a super cafe!" 

Another recommendation was: “Widemouth Bay: amazing surf, laid back, non-commercial (but good cafe), great rock-pooling, feels like you are miles from anywhere, great for all ages. However if I have to give my absolute fave, it has to be Sennen and no need to explain the reasons for that one - amazing!”

Julie Beighton plumped for “Crantock. Beautiful sand and dunes. River running into sea. Like Margaret river in Western Australia.”

We decided to see if we could determine the most important factor when choosing a West Country beach to visit, so we created a Facebook poll – top answers so far: a friendly beach café and rock pools to explore. You can see the beaches in Devon and Cornwall that made it into our top ten in this Facebook photo album.

We’d love to hear about your favourite West Country beaches, so do leave a comment below and take part in our poll!

You might also like to browse our holiday cottages near a sandy beach!

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Watch the ebb and flow...

For peaceful seclusion, there could hardly be a better choice of holiday location – detached, with unobtrusive neighbours, fantastic views, warm, comfortable, and a lovely east facing balcony, where you can enjoy breakfast and watch the little one-track train plying back and forth all day between St Ives and St Erth on the main line, and plot the ebb and flow of the tide against the rocks on Carbis Bay beach.

And in the very best part of Cornwall – the mild, very beautiful, south-west peninsula, virtually surrounded by sea, and everything within easy reach – St Ives , 1½ miles away along a beautiful coastal path in one direction, and Lelant, 2 miles, away in the opposite direction, both with option of train or bus return journey; the splendid variety of shops in Penzance (6 miles away), the beautiful surfing beach (and the masses of beautiful primroses along the coast path in Spring) at Sennen Cove, for example.

The chance for more serious walking, a large number of interesting gardens/ancient sites within easy reach, an excellent leisure centre in St Ives offering swimming pool and a variety of things to do, good eating places, or just to sit and chill out and gaze at those fantastic views, almost everywhere you go. And Tesco a stone’s throw away.

We’ve made 5 visits between 2001 and 2008 – says it all really.