Start with What "Near the Beach" Actually Means

Every coastal listing claims to be close to the sea, and most of them are telling the truth. The question is whether that closeness works with your family on a wet Tuesday in October. A ten-minute walk measured on a map can easily become twenty-five minutes with a four-year-old, a buggy and a bag of sandwiches, especially if the route involves a steep lane, a flight of cliff steps or a footpath across soft sand.

Ask the owner directly what the walk involves. Is there a pavement the whole way, or do you walk in the road for the last stretch? Are there stiles or kissing gates that a pushchair will not fit through? Does the path flood or turn to deep mud after rain? If you are travelling with a toddler who refuses to be carried, a cottage on a level lane two streets back from the front is often a better holiday than one clinging to a cliff with a spectacular view.

It also pays to think about the kind of coast you want. A sandy bay with lifeguards and shallow shelving water suits young children far better than a rocky cove that disappears at high tide. Quayside self-catering breaks are a different pleasure again: crabbing off the wall, watching boats come and go, and a short walk to a harbour beach. Neither is better, but they demand different things of you, particularly where safety and storage are concerned.

Check Access Before You Fall for the Photographs

Arrival is the part of a cottage holiday that nobody photographs. Ask how far the car can get from the door, and whether you can unload before parking. Some properties sit at the end of a narrow lane with a car park two hundred metres away and a wheelbarrow left out for luggage — charming in July, character-building in a hailstorm with a sleeping baby.

Worth confirming in writing:

• How many steps are there to the entrance, and is there a handrail?
• Is the path lit for a winter arrival after dark?
• Is the surface gravel, cobbles or smooth paving?
• Is there a step-free route to at least one bedroom and bathroom?
• Where exactly do you park, and is the space wide enough for a roof box or a people carrier?

If grandparents are joining you, these details move from convenience to necessity. A cottage that works beautifully for four adults can be genuinely difficult for anyone with a bad knee or a walking stick.

Beds, Cots and the Things That Keep Small Children Safe

Bed sizes matter more than most people expect. A 4ft double is snug for two adults and hopeless for two taller teenagers, and bunk beds are frequently narrower than a standard single. Ask for the dimensions rather than assuming. Sofa beds in the sitting room are fine for a teenager who stays up late, but a poor choice for a child who will be woken every time someone makes tea.

On the baby kit, be specific. A proper cot with a firm mattress is not the same as a travel cot, and neither is much use without a sheet that fits. Confirm whether a high chair is a full upright seat with a harness or a clip-on model for a table, and whether stair gates are fitted at both the top and bottom of the stairs. Window restrictors in upstairs rooms, socket covers and a fireguard are all reasonable things to ask about.

Then look at the layout as a whole. Is the children's room next to yours? Can you shut a door between the kitchen and the stairs? Is there a balcony, a Juliet balcony or a low upstairs window that opens wide? Coastal properties often have unfenced drops, garden ponds, hot tubs or direct access to a quay wall, and a toddler moves faster than you think.

Storage for Wet Kit, Buggies and Everything Else

In a coastal cottage, storage is not a luxury. Wetsuits, wellies, body boards, buckets, spades, raincoats and a folded buggy all need somewhere to live, and a hallway the size of a wardrobe will make the week feel cramped however lovely the view is.

Look for a boot room or utility area, an outdoor tap for rinsing sandy feet, and a washing line or airer. A washing machine is close to essential with young children; a tumble dryer or a decent heated airer is a bonus in a wet week. Check the freezer size if you rely on ice packs for cool bags and picnics — many cottage freezers are a small compartment inside the fridge. Finally, think about whether you can leave a pushchair set up inside. Folding and unfolding it four times a day while a toddler naps in it gets old very quickly.

Outdoor Space, Noise and Quayside Quirks

Ask what the outdoor space actually is. An enclosed garden with a lockable gate is a different proposition from a shared terrace, a balcony or a patio with an unfenced drop. Check whether the boundary is a wall, a hedge or a low fence, and whether there is any shade — a sun-baked deck can be too hot for a baby by mid-afternoon, and wet decking is slippery underfoot.

Quayside properties come with their own soundtrack. Expect early engines, gulls, deliveries, ropes creaking and possibly a pub emptying at closing time. For some families that is the whole point; for light sleepers, it is worth knowing before you book. Also ask about the water itself. A quay with no barrier, a steep slipway or a harbour wall without railings all need supervising constantly, and it helps to know that in advance so you can plan your days around it.

Questions to Ask Before You Book

A short email to the owner will save a great deal of guesswork. Ask about bed dimensions in every room, the exact cot and high chair provided, stair gates, parking and unloading, the number of steps, whether the garden is enclosed, and how far the nearest safe swimming beach is on foot. Ask when the tide comes in, too — it shapes your days more than any other single fact on the coast.

Get those answers and you can book with confidence, knowing the cottage will suit the family you are travelling with rather than the one in the brochure.