Tassells Cove tops the list

Getting there was the hard part. The route to Tassells Cove runs you a roundabout way to the car park, with a few turns and a follow-the-road stretch that had us doubting the map. Parking is sparse even when you find it. Go early.

Then the water makes its case. Very shallow, very clear, and the boys worked it in completely different ways.

Max: I love the water more here than anywhere else. The rocky cove pools gave me something to investigate between proper swims, and the shallows meant I could wade out confidently.

Pepsi, the explorer of the pair, wandered off and swam laps in the glass-clear shallows.

The cove is isolated by design: purely a dog beach, no shops, no crowds of casual beachgoers. Stairs and a crossing take you to another beach when you need snacks. Bring your own water and bowls.

Our beach ranking after this one: Seaford for first-timers, Mentone for the widest mix of dogs, and Tassells Cove for the explorers. The full Tassells Cove guide has the practical detail.