You can't do much better than England's southwest coast as far as English beaches go. In East Portlemouth, Devon, you'll find one of the most gorgeous coves in the South Hams district: Sunny Cove.

This charming stretch of shoreline sits directly across the harbour from Salcombe’s popular North Sands and South Sands beaches and is aptly named for its sunny aspect. I'm a big fan of small cove beaches over those that straddle the sea for miles, particularly when exploring new places abroad. But it turns out that even the azure waters of Crete aren't always better than England's.

Seitan Limania, known as Stefanou beach, is located east of Akrotiri Cape, Crete. Steep cliffs and strong sea streams can be dangerous in the area, but this northern cove is tiny and very safe for swimming, thanks to the huge rocks enclosing a quirky S-shaped water channel. 

TripAdvisor described the beach as "picture-perfect" and "a must-see in northwestern Crete". 

It is even more remote than Sunny Cove in Devon, which can be reached by boat (hop on at Salcombe) or a 10-minute walk through the woods from the Mill Bay car park. Granted, the water seems more impressive than Devon, too.

However, Sunny Cove beats this hidden gem Cretan beach on many metrics. It boasts gorgeous, fine golden sand, unlike Stefanou beach, which is covered in fine pebbles.

Sunny Cove's accessibility is impressive because of its quiet and cosy beach. Meanwhile, to reach Stefanou, you must drive down steep, windy roads to a rugged car park where goats roam free.

A tricky hike down a rocky, makeshift path is the only way to reach the shoreline, unless you arrive by boat.

Pictures speak for themselves as to how breathtaking Stefanou is, but hordes of crowds ruin the incredible landscape.

The beach was jam-packed with tourists even when I visited in early October, and the number of goats on the beach was a big surprise. 

Though harmless, the hungry goats beeline for anything that looks edible and can be quite intimidating. Food and drink are best left in the car if you visit this beach - even water bottles aren't safe. As I discovered, you will quickly be swarmed.

On the other hand, Sunny Cove is a dog-friendly beach year-round, but it has no free-roaming animals. You might spot a few cows near the coastal path back up to Garra Rock.

Surprisingly, the Devon cove is much more pleasant for swimming, too. The seemingly azure water at Stefanou Beach is quite unpleasant when you realise how cloudy it is. The small inlet also gets very busy with people snorkelling or jumping off steep rocks.

Ordinarily, I'd take a trip to the Greek islands over a staycation in the UK, but there's something about Sunny Cove on a bright, warm day that you can't beat.

Devon's offering is quaint and much more peaceful than many of the top-rated beaches in the UK and Europe. Small sailboats and ribs dart across the harbour, with a backdrop (almost) as dramatic as the rugged rocks of Stefanou beach.

Opposite, beautifully presented houses are set in the steep coastline, where lush green terrain peeks through.

Like all UK beaches, Sunny Cove is a sight to behold under blue skies and bright sunshine - but less so on a gloomy grey day. That said, its cosy location at the mouth of Salcombe harbour is always enchanting.

Nearby beauty spots, like Hope Cove in the South Hams district, normally take the glory. However, Sunny Cove is unique in that it has close competition, a trio of beaches – Fishermans Cove, Smalls Cove and Mill Bay, which all sit opposite buzzing Salcombe.

And yet, it remains etched in my memory as one of the best spots I've been to in the region.