Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside!

Whether you like to stroll along the prom, lounge on the beach or have fun in the water, few of us can resist the draw of the coast. Here’s a selection of seaside sanctuaries for you to dip your toe into...

Marigold Cottage near Crantock is a devilishly good place to start. Legend has it the town was buried by sand for its sinfulness. With its pretty village setting including thatched houses, tea room, pub and splendid sandy beach plus Newquay’s surfing beaches nearby, this semi-detached converted barn is a charming Cornish temptation.

Exquisite Cawsand is a popular watersports and fishing destination. Use Trevarna as your base and you’ll have stunning views out to sea over Plymouth Sound from nearly all rooms of this impressive, Grade II listed, four-storey house. Recently renovated, it’s a thoroughly modern and comfortable holiday retreat, just a stone’s throw away from the beach and a mile from Whitsand Bay.

Salcombe is a yacht haven with creeks, sandy bays and waterside pubs. Stumbledown is at its heart, off a donkey-width lane; a neat studio apartment just right for two and a good value base in this popular town. Watch estuary life float by from the shore or hire a boat and find a secluded cove.

Keen to get away soon? Quirky Peelers Cottage – which had a former life as a police station and gaol – has June availability. Positioned in central Appledore, known for its boat building and fishing community, you can enjoy an ice cream and the pretty estuary views from the quayside or pop across the water to the beach at Instow for watersports.

For more ideas, take a look at our holiday homes within 5 miles of the coast in Devon and in Cornwall.  

Top photo credit: Podknox

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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