If you prefer being far from the madding crowd Cornwall might not be your first choice, especially for a summer break when it's packed to the gills with visitors.
But the county, although extremely popular, still delivers secluded beaches and quieter coves if you know where to look.
One of these is the lovely beach at Porth Joke, known as Polly Joke Beach by the locals, a mere stone's throw from bustling Newquay and pretty Crantock village.
Take a cottage in Cornwall, head for Polly Joke and you'll discover a delightful little inlet, backed by soft grassland and tucked cosily between the massive beach at Crantock and the even busier Holywell beach.
A haven of golden sand dotted with exciting rock pools, it's around 300m walk from the nearest car park.
Which might not seem a lot.
But it's enough to put many visitors off, so it's often wonderfully secluded.
There's absolutely no development at Polly Joke beach either.
There are no shops, bars or supplies on hand.
Which also helps puts your run of the mill visitor off, especially when they've got little kids and pushchairs to negotiate.
The path from the car park isn't made up so it's hard work taking a pram or whatever.
The up side? The average visitor age is higher at Polly Joke and it's much more peaceful as a result.
Because there's less screaming and shrieking you can enjoy the gentle suck of the waves uninterrupted and drift off to the soughing of warm summer breezes across the scrubby vegetation and sharp Marram grass.
Perfect for grown up contemplation and peace when you spend the rest of the year working your backside off in an inner city cacophony! As dog friendly Cornwall goes, there's no dogs allowed on the beach between Easter and October.
Which is a shame, but understandable.
The incredibly crystal clear Gulf Stream waters and pale sand lend Polly Joke a tropical feel and the views deliver the essence of purest Cornwall, stunning at every time of year and in every kind of weather.
And it's amazingly clean.
In spring and summer the path to the beach is surrounded by unusual beach-side plants which flower profusely to give a stunning mat of yellow, orange and purple, contrasting dramatically against the sea and sky.
Newquay's fantastic beaches have made it one of the county's prime destinations for sunbathers and surfers alike but Polly Joke Beach remains a relatively well kept secret, a little jewel in Cornwall's crown.
Cornwall cottage holidays give you access to all this and more.
Book your holiday cottage in Cornwall at Crantock, or as close as you can get, and make Polly Joke your base for the best, most relaxing Cornish break...
ever!