Castle an Dinas

Iron Age earthworks sprawl across this hilltop site just outside Tremayne, forming Cornwall's largest hill fort. The ramparts and ditches might not look like much at first glance, but walk the perimeter and you'll start to appreciate the sheer scale of what ancient Britons built here over 2,000 years ago.

History enthusiasts will love piecing together how this defensive settlement would have functioned. Three concentric rings of banks and ditches protected the inhabitants, with the outer defences enclosing about 14 acres. From the highest point, views stretch across the Cornish countryside - though you'll need to use your imagination to picture the roundhouses and storage pits that once filled the interior.

Families might find it a bit of a hard sell unless the kids are properly into archaeology. There's no visitor centre or interpretation boards, so it helps to read up beforehand. The site is freely accessible year-round, and you can explore it thoroughly in about an hour.

If you're staying at one of the holiday parks around Newquay like White Acres or the Parkdean sites, Castle an Dinas makes a decent half-day trip combined with a walk in the surrounding countryside. It's not going to wow Instagram followers, but for a proper glimpse into Cornwall's ancient past, it's well worth the detour.