Beach - your top tips

[Jemgem]

First time going on a beach holiday (that isn’t resort based!) to Cornwall next week and staying in a budget hotel. What are your top tips? Are there places to get dressed or clean toilets? What essentials would you recommend we take with us?

@MatildaTheCat I have to admit, we did practice in the garden before we went!

Dry robe saved cold kids!

@FedNlanders

Dry robe saved cold kids!

That sounds like a cryptic crossword clue .

We use these bags as massive rucksacks with easy access to out everything in to carry to the beach as inevitable we need to walk & juggle the children

Poncho style towels for the kids. They can wear them instead of carrying them, and can change under them.

Bags for life are good - one for wet sandy wet stuff and one for dry stuff.

And everyone can carry something, my well worn phrase was 'I am not the buckaroo mule'.

Lots of what PP have said:

Folding chairs
Shade/ pop up shade tent
Lots of towels (microfibre/ hamman)
Chilly's bottles
Dry snacks
Picnic basket if parking not too far.
Usual kids' play things- frisbee/ balls/ cricket/ bats/kite.
Hats/glasses
Water shoes/Cross
And these are amazing for changing- just got ours.

An IKEA blue bag as beach bag if you have kids with spades etc

A festival trolley is essential for us

@Puffalicious

Lots of what PP have said:

Folding chairs
Shade/ pop up shade tent
Lots of towels (microfibre/ hamman)
Chilly's bottles
Dry snacks
Picnic basket if parking not too far.
Usual kids' play things- frisbee/ balls/ cricket/ bats/kite.
Hats/glasses
Water shoes/Cross
And these are amazing for changing- just got ours.

They look good-are they towelling or microfibre? Are they on the bulky side?

Try out your sunscreen at home if it’s a new brand. Your slin needs to like it.

Sunscreen isn’t a magic wand. You need to follow the instructions.

Cloud in the sky doesn’t mean no uv. Wear sunscreen properly anyway.

Check the state of the tide - lots of beaches in Cornwall get very small at high tide so aim for falling/low tide if you can.
Parking - familiarise yourself with parking spots, get there early.
Beach tent - game changer.
Try to go to lifeguarded beaches, figure out the flags & where the life guards are so people know where to go if lost.
Hats. Frozen bottles of water. Pasties for lunch.

Always talcum powder to get the sand off and wet wipes.

A rubbish bag

Howshouldibehave They're very light, not bulky at all and lovely, soft towelling. They're quite thin but not insubstantial. Mine is super long and wide- great for changing and for throwing on after if you feel a bit chilly/ as the sun goes down. Kids' ones- I ordered large for DS3- he's 9 but tall and it's perfect.

If it’s warm, go dressed in your swim suit, take a dress or pair of shorts with/wear them.
Take sun cream, towels and a bit of money or bank card and some wipes.
Get children to carry bucket spade/floaty..

Travel light.

@Puffalicious

Lots of what PP have said:

Folding chairs
Shade/ pop up shade tent
Lots of towels (microfibre/ hamman)
Chilly's bottles
Dry snacks
Picnic basket if parking not too far.
Usual kids' play things- frisbee/ balls/ cricket/ bats/kite.
Hats/glasses
Water shoes/Cross
And these are amazing for changing- just got ours.

@Puffalicious Where are they from please?

Children dress on swimmers and rash vest. Spare Clothes in car.

Amazing tips! Thanks. For those who know Cornwall, where are the family friendly beaches? They might be the busiest though!

Where in Cornwall are you staying?

I'd go for the big sandy popular beaches anyway with kids - Polzeath, Daymer, Perranporth, Gwithian, beaches around Newquay, Mount's Bay, Praa Sands, Gyllngvase, Swan pool, Maenporth, Bude, the list goes on, really depends where you're staying.

South Coast coves are generally speaking a bit trickier to get to and a bit smaller.

But do think in advance - for example Trebarwith Strand disappears completely at high tide, Kynance Cove car park is often full and closed by mid morning.

Cornwall is going to absolutely heaving.

Learn the signs of drowning.

twitter.com/trishgreenhalgh/status/1418896428177444865?s=21

Agree about Cornwall being busy. The beaches are heaving on hot days in peak season.

Knowledge is power Op . Do some googling on the beaches near you, some are better for swimming, some for crabbing or rock pooling, some have better sand, some popular with surfers , some have more facilities (cafes, toilets, shops nearby) Check parking available, some have Park and Ride or consider going early to get a parking space.

As long as you're a bit prepared in what to expect, (and plan for non beach activities for wet days) I'm sure you'll have a great time.

We normally go abroad but just back from UK beach holiday.
Microfibre towels
Beach tent
Cool bag (buy cold drinks from shop to help keep everything else cold)
Massive shopping bags
Beach shoes and wetsuits for kids.

Well, that's funny, I have just this minute been looking at some old photo's. Just looked at one that shows my late Grandparents on a beach in about 1950. Might have been a beach in Wales somewhere. They are both sat in stripey deck chairs.. My Nan has her best flowery dress on, and a straw hat, and some sensible shoes, and a black handbag,like the one the Queen carries, she has that placed on the sand next to her. Next there is a flask of tea,and two china cups,and a little package, probably a couple of sandwiches,

My Grandad in the chair next to her, is wearing a tweed jacket and grey trousers, and a trilby hat. It seems to be sunny, as my Nan is wearing sunglasses, quite trendy for 1950 era. My Granddad seems to have been reading a newspaper, but it is on the sand, with a couple of pages blown away up the sand.
So this is all you need for a day on the beach !!

Can I ask people who have them…this is probably a daft question, but what are microfibre towels like? Are they like a giant version of those ones you use in the kitchen/shower to buff glass?!