Dawe's Hill Plantation

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured garden, Dawe's Hill Plantation near Launceston is the sort of place where you actually feel like you've stepped into the Cornish countryside. The forest floor here is genuinely spongy, the trees towering overhead thick enough to block out most of the sky, and it's blissfully quiet except for birdsong and the occasional rustle of something in the undergrowth.

You can wander the paths for as little as 20 minutes or spend an hour or more threading through the different sections, depending on how deep you want to go. It's ideal if you've got restless kids who need burning off rather than shepherding round yet another heritage site - they can actually run about without knocking over a rope barrier. The terrain is manageable for most ages, though definitely muddier than your average park path after rain.

There's something about being in among actual working forest rather than prettied-up woodland that appeals to anyone with a bit of sense about what Cornwall looks like beyond the tourist trail. Bring decent boots and maybe a packed lunch to eat by one of the quieter spots.

If you're staying at Trewithen Farm Glamping or Ekopod just down the road, this is exactly the sort of morning jaunt that rounds out a day before heading to the coast. Free to explore, no faffing with opening times - just turn up when it suits you. It won't be the highlight of your week, but it's the sort of walk you'll remember fondly once you're back home.