Trá Mór, Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal

Suits: Tweens.

Hike: Older kids will love finding a secret beach, and Trá Mór, outside Dunfanaghy, feels like opening a box of delights. There are no roads to the beach, making its discovery all the more enjoyable. You can walk through the dunes or skirt around them before the beach appears. And it’s worth the sense of suspense — a 2km curve of sand stops you in your tracks (if you’re lucky, you might have it to yourself). Pack what you need for a picnic, but take care: there are dangerous currents and riptides on Trá Mór, so swimming is not recommended under any circumstances. – KD

Start and Finish at: The car park after the bridge.

Level: Moderate — buggies won’t make it, and though most people of reasonable fitness won’t have trouble, the dunes could be a struggle for younger kids.

Length / Time: 7 km (or 10km if you walk the beach); 1.5–3hrs.

Pack: Drinks and snacks or a picnic. Bring a bag for your rubbish and don’t forget long trousers, as the grass on the dunes can be harsh on bare legs.