Although Cornwall is shivering in easterly winds and leaden skies today, with heavy rain forecast tomorrow, hang on to your hats.

WIth a southerly air flow due to take hold in the middle of the week, Good Friday and Saturday look like being delightful days with plenty of sunshine and temperatures up to 20 degrees.

Easter Sunday and Monday also look promising, so we've compiled a list of hidden beaches to escape the masses next weekend.

1, Church Cove, Gunwalloe

Gunwalloe is owned and looked after by the National Trust and is able to care and conserve areas like this thanks to their members, volunteers and donors. Car park free to National Trust members.

The tiny church of St Wynwallow, with a detached tower set into the solid rock of the headland, is located to the north side of the beach hence the name Church Cove.

Please note: Dogs are welcome on this beach except between Easter Sunday and 30 September (07:00am - 07:00pm) when a seasonal dog ban is in place.

Falmouth Packet:

Church Cove. Picture by Christopher Hilton

2, Kiberick Cove, Roseland Peninsula

Nestled into the armpit of Nare Head near Veryan, this beach offers rich reward for the more adventurous.

PArk your car in the National Trust car park at the top and walk across steep, sheep-filled fields to a rocky descent to the beach. Peaceful, sheltered and great to swim in.

3, Pedn Vounder, near Porthcurno

Arguably the most beautiful beach in Cornwall, it’s tucked away on the south coast between the Minack Theatre and Logan’s Rock. There’s a campsite above, but the tricky scramble down to the beach keeps crowds away. Shallow lagoons are warmed by the sun between low tide sandbars. It can be accessed from Treen or Porthcurno car park.

4, Porth Joke, near Newquay

Sat between the yawning sands of Crantock and Holywell Bay, "Polly Joke" as it is known is a delightful, family-friendly cove. Lots of rock pools and shelter afforded by headlands either side, it is a beach in an unspoilt natural environment.

Falmouth Packet:

Polly Joke

5, Towan Beach, Roseland Peninsula

Towan Beach is a quiet, south east facing beach near St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula.

At high tide it is a sand and shingle beach, with rock pools revealed at low tide. This beach should not be confused with Towan Beach, Newquay on the north coast.

Towan Beach is located at the southern-most tip of Gerrans Bay near the beaches of Porthbeor and Portscatho that can be reached on foot via the South West Coast Path.

Refreshments provided Easter to October each year - teas, coffees, cream teas, cakes and bakes etc. 

Dogs allowed all year.

Falmouth Packet:

Towan Beach

6, Nanjizal Beach, near Land's End

Nanjizal (or Mill Bay) is a beach and cove in parish of Sennen. Situated one mile to the south-east of Land's End, Nanjizal has no direct access via road and is usually reached via the South West Coast Path from Land's End in the north, or from Porthgwarra to the south. Nanjizal is also a noted bird watching location.

7, Lantic Bay, near Fowey

If you’re up for a bit of a hike then Lantic Bay will reward you with one of the most stunning locations.

Use the Natinal Trust car park a mile east of Polruan near Fowey and take the well-marked footpath across the road and into a field. The great reveal is made as you walk over the brow of the hill, and below is a sand and shingle beach in a cove cut into cliffs. It's around a 20-minute walk.

8, Bosahan Cove, Helford

Bosahan is not like your usual Cornish beach. For a start it is surrounded by dense woodland. On the banks of the Helford River, it is over a mile's walk from the nearest parking spot. As well as making for an enchanting woodland walk to get to the cove, this also ensures the beach is quiet at all times. 

Falmouth Packet:

Bosahan Cove. Picture by Row17

9, Rinsey Cove, near Praa Sands

Rinsey Cove sits at the bottom of cliffs overlooked by the old engine house of Wheal Prosper mine. At low tide there isn't much of a beach here but as the tide drops it reveals a stretch of lovely golden sand with little lagoons forming between the rocks. 

10, Leggan Cove, Lizard Peninsula

Looking across the little known beach at Leggan Cove on the eastern side of the peninsula, you wouldn't know from the view that the cove sits between two quarries at Dean Point and Porthoustock.

This is one of the reasons Leggan Cove is so quiet; even the coast path diverts away from the coast to round the quarry at this end of the bay meaning the chances of anyone stumbling across this little beach a fairly slim.