Chun Downs Nature Reserve

The sweep across Chun Downs is nothing short of arresting. You're standing on proper Cornish moorland here, inland from Penzance, where the granite landscape rolls away with barely a fence in sight. It's the kind of place where you can actually breathe, and the light does something different depending on what the weather's doing.

What you get is wild grassland with low heather, gorse, and the occasional wind-twisted hawthorn. The ground underfoot is boggy in places, so proper boots are essential. Walkers will find this straightforward terrain with genuine views across west Cornwall - on a clear day you're looking at decent distances. It's not dramatic in the theatrical sense, but it's genuinely moving if you like solitude and open space.

The nature reserve itself is free to access, and there's no time limit. You'll want at least two hours to make the most of it, longer if you're the type to stop and watch birds. Spring and early summer are best - the wildflowers get going and you might spot adders if you're lucky. Families with young kids might find it a bit of a slog if there's no obvious endpoint, but older children who like exploring will get on with it fine.

If you're camping at Roselands Caravan Camping Park just down the road near Penzance, this makes a cracking morning walk. It's the kind of place that reminds you why you came to Cornwall in the first place - not for the postcards, but for the actual land.