Tregantle Beach

Tregantle sits at the eastern end of Whitsand Bay's great three-mile run of sand, reached by a steep zig-zag path down the cliff from the high ground around Tregantle Fort. It is the wildest and least developed stretch of the bay: spacious and open at low water, but shrinking to little more than a ribbon of sand when the tide is full in. There is no parade of cafes or kiosks here, which is part of the appeal for those who want their coast unfussy and uncrowded.

What makes Tregantle unusual is the working military land above it. The Victorian fort, completed in the 1860s as part of the Plymouth defences, still overlooks an active Ministry of Defence firing range, and when firing is taking place red flags or lights are shown and the cliff path is closed. The timetable changes, so it is essential to check the published firing times before planning a visit; when the range is quiet, the beach opens up as one of the emptiest in this corner of Cornwall.