If you find yourself in the Botanical Gardens of Ventnor, and wander past the giant waterlilies and prickly pears, you’ll find a small opening in the far fence. Scramble down the steep narrow path and you’ll arrive at Steephill Cove. Hidden from incidental passersby, this tiny cove is a perfect pocket of old-fashioned beachy fun.

On a sunny day, tide out, grab a deckchair and sit on the sand with a cone of local Minghella’s ice cream (banana smoothie is my favourite). On a grey day, perch on a boulder, waves riding high, with coffee from the tiny shop. The shop owner makes the best carrot cake; it would be rude to say no.

Make a day of it with sandcastles, snoozes, and tiny discoveries in the rock pools. Stay for a delicious meal at the Boathouse where you can sit outside with a plate of seafood while the sun sets over the water. And if you’re really pushing the boat out, you could stay in the lighthouse. There is a lot squeezed in to this cove no bigger than a postage stamp, and perfect for exploring whether you have a day or an hour.

Images by Bryony Rust