A natural swimming pool surrounded by rocks sounds like the stuff of our childhood holidays (well, mine, anyway), evoking long-gone dreams for disappearing for hours to paddle and forage on Cornish beaches.

Well, the pool is still there, at Trevarnon, near Padstow in Cornwall. The sandy beach here reveals its rocky secret as the tide recedes - a large, safe natural sea pool surrounded by smaller rock pools. This glorious turquoise bay has a Marine Conservation Society Award for Highest Water Quality and although it gets busy in summer, is blissfully quiet in the spring months (you may need mini-wetsuits for your children, though!).

Also near Trevanron is the Camel Trail cycle path from Padstow to Bodmin, following the river from the sea, past the cockle beds and the Camel Valley vineyard along the path of the old railway line to the market town of Bodmin on the edge of the moor. It's a great, free family activity and if you don't have bikes, you can rent them with baby seats and toddler trailers.

There's plenty of accommodation in the area. Stay in the comically named Twizzletwig, a bungalow sleeping six a short walk from the beach, complete with Rayburn and open fireplace for chillier days. Cornish Horizons (www.cornishhorizons.co.uk) is offering seven nights self catering for up to six people at Twizzletwig, from £346 in low season to £927 in high season.

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