Carnmenellis

The walk up Carnmenellis isn't a showstopper - let's be honest about that from the start. It's a modest moorland hill near Redruth that appeals most to people who like gentle rambles rather than dramatic vistas. You get proper views across mid-Cornwall from the top, with the mining heritage landscape spread out below, but nothing that'll make you gasp. The climb itself is straightforward, maybe 45 minutes depending on fitness, through rough grassland and gorse. It's free, obviously - just turn up and walk.

Historically minded visitors will find it worth the effort. Carnmenellis sits on an ancient landscape riddled with tin and copper workings, and you can spot old mine ruins if you know where to look. Families with young kids might manage it, though the terrain's uneven in places and there's no facilities whatsoever. Walkers working their way around the various moorland routes in the area - think Godolphin Hill, Carn Brea - sometimes loop this in, but it's not essential.

Staying at one of the nearby glamping spots like Little Menherion or Tresyjo Penhallow gives you easy access for an early morning walk before breakfast. The real charm here is more about solitude and mining history than landscape drama. If you're after proper moorland walking with a clearer payoff, you'd do better elsewhere in Cornwall. But if you're based locally and fancy a straightforward couple of hours outdoors, it does the job. Just manage expectations - this is work, not wonder.