Barrowfields

Bronze Age burial mounds dot this stretch of Cornwall countryside just outside Porth, where ancient peoples laid their dead to rest some 4,000 years ago. The site contains several well-preserved barrows - earthen burial chambers that once held cremated remains and precious grave goods.

Walking across the fields, you'll spot the distinctive humps rising from the grass. They're not dramatic - more like gentle green bumps than proper hills - but knowing what lies beneath makes them rather moving. Each mound represents someone important enough to merit this kind of memorial, though we'll never know their names or stories.

Families staying at nearby Hendra Holiday Park or the Parkdean resorts around Newquay will find this a pleasant detour rather than a destination. Kids might lose interest after twenty minutes unless they're properly into archaeology. The site works best combined with a coastal walk or visit to Porth Beach.

There's no visitor centre or interpretation boards, so you'll need to use your imagination. The Cornwall Council website provides basic details, but don't expect guided tours or facilities. It's free to wander around - assuming it follows the usual pattern for these kinds of sites - and takes maybe half an hour to explore properly. Best avoided in wet weather when the fields turn muddy.