Swanpool Beach Falmouth Cornwall

Just five minutes from St Michaels Hotel, Swanpool is a wildlife hotspot. A summer sun-trap with a calm sea and watersports, it's also a little bit of a foodie hub.

1. This sandy cove sits snuggly alongside Swanpool Lake Nature Reserve, a haven for wildlife.

2. It’s an easy five minute walk from St Michaels – find it by following the coast path and you’ll soon pop out onto the beach alongside its bright stripy beach huts.

3. Swanpool Lake is an ideal reserve to spot over 100 species of birds – so pack your binoculars and look out for grebe, tufted ducks and kingfishers.

4. Head to Elemental UK’sWatersports School to hire or learn all sorts of wet and wild activities – from sailing and canoeing into caves, to coasteering and raft building.

5. If the wind is right, there’s nothing better than giving windsurfing a go and feeling the salt spray on your face.

6. The stars of Swanpool are its swans, giving the beach its name. They’ll love you forever if you come armed with a loaf of dry bread.

8. If you’re looking for a family day out, Swanpool’s crazy golf course is open all year round, costing just £3 per person.

9. Brave a swim by bobbing past the buoys and heading to the right of the beach, where you’ll find a sandy seabed and low rocks. Bring a pair of goggles so you can spot huge ballan wrasse as you swim.

10. Swanpool’s beach café is the ideal place to stop for a bite to eat. Home of the quirky ice-cream, these legendary treats are the best thing on the menu. Smothered in Cornish clotted cream then topped with a variety of extras (from jelly babies, ginger and banana pieces to honey-roasted hazelnuts and toffee balls) – they’re not for the faint hearted.