Jacobs Beach, Sidmouth

Deep blue sky and red Devon earth make for a striking contrast of colour. Jacobs Beach is to the West of Sidmouth and away from the  crowds on the main promenade. At low tide you can walk round on the sand, at high tide there is a seafront walk which clings to the cliffs. Good cafe with a vast selection of gargantuan homemade cakes in the gardens if you climb the Jacobs Ladder (fancy name for the wooden steps). The old beach huts, locked away in Winter to avoid the battering of pebbles, look worth a visit when the temperature rises.

•  nearest parking, Sidmouth Hill.
• dogs allowed in the Winter months.
• cafe open all year, www.clocktowercafesidmouth.co.uk
• gardens of cafe good enclosed space for children.