Air Bender

The Air Bender sculpture sits on the clifftop near Little Petherick, a striking modern installation that catches you off guard if you're not expecting it. It's the kind of piece that divides opinion - some reckon it's brilliant, others find it a bit much - but there's no denying it commands attention against the Cornish sky.

You're looking at a substantial metal figure frozen mid-movement, and the thing about it is how the light plays across it throughout the day. Morning visits are particularly good if you want to photograph it without crowds, though honestly it's not exactly mobbed with tourists. The surrounding coastal path offers proper views across the bay, so you can kill an hour easily combining the sculpture visit with a decent walk.

It works best for anyone with an appreciation for contemporary art or unusual landmarks - kids will find it interesting for five minutes, then want to move on. The real draw is the location itself rather than spending time studying the work at length. If you're staying at Padstow Holiday Village, it's just three miles away and makes a quick morning detour before heading into Padstow proper for lunch.

Free to view, open year-round. Wear proper shoes for the clifftop paths - they can be muddy after rain. The whole trip takes maybe 30 minutes unless you fancy extending it into a longer coastal walk, which the area absolutely rewards.