Camel Valley Vineyard

Cornwall makes wine now, and Camel Valley near Bodmin is proof the south-west takes it seriously. You'll find yourself in proper vineyard country here - rolling hills, actual vines, and a working winery that's been going since the 1980s. The landscape alone justifies the drive.

What you get is a tour of the vineyard itself, time in the tasting room sampling their whites and reds (they do a decent sparkling too), and a chance to buy bottles at cellar door prices. It's not pretentious - the staff know their stuff but won't make you feel daft if you can't tell a Bacchus from a Seyval. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper tasting; an hour if you just want a quick look around and a glass.

History buffs might be disappointed - this isn't about ancient Cornwall, it's about what happened when someone decided to plant vines here forty years ago and proved everyone wrong. Wine enthusiasts will get far more from it than casual drinkers, though couples after a leisurely afternoon will enjoy it too. Kids aren't really the audience, to be honest.

If you're camping at Mena Farm or The Laurels nearby, it makes a solid half-day outing, especially on a decent summer afternoon when you can sit outside with a glass. Worth checking their website for opening times and whether you need to book a tasting - they do fill up on weekends. It's not a must-do, but if you like wine and want to avoid the tourist crush of coastal spots, it scratches that itch.