Cycle Trail (Camel Trail)

The old railway line from Padstow to Wenfordbridge has been transformed into a proper cycling and walking route that runs for about 17 miles through some genuinely lovely Cornish countryside. What you get is a flat, traffic-free path following the Camel Valley - the kind of thing that sounds a bit dull until you're actually on it and realizing how rare it is to find such easy cycling this close to the coast.

It's outstanding for families. Young kids can manage the whole thing without much fuss, and there's something oddly satisfying about pedalling along a dead-straight route with minimal hills. Walkers get just as much out of it, though fair warning: it can get busy on summer weekends, and the surface is decent but not pristine in places. The best bits are where the path cuts through tunnels and you're genuinely in the trees - proper green tunneling feels like a small adventure.

You can start from Padstow itself, which is handy if you're staying at Porthilly Beach Holiday Park just down the road. St Minver and The Laurels are also well-positioned for easy access. Allow three to four hours for the full route if you're dawdling; most people just do sections though. The traffic-free appeal means it works year-round, though autumn's genuinely the best time when the crowds thin out and the light gets that amber quality. Free to use, naturally.