Dolly P Boat Trips, St Ives

The boats leave from the harbour in St Ives, bobbing gently at their moorings while seagulls screech overhead. Dolly P runs trips out along the coast - proper sea excursions that get you away from the beach crowds and into the water itself. You're looking at anything from a gentle harbour cruise to longer runs that take in the dramatic cliffs and coves between St Ives and Lands End. The crew know the area inside out and will point out seals, seabirds, and the old engine houses clinging to the clifftops.

It's the sort of thing that works well for families - kids seem to find genuine excitement in being on actual water rather than splashing in the shallows. History types will appreciate the industrial heritage you spot from the sea, the old tin and copper mining infrastructure that shaped this coast. Anyone who gets seasick should probably give it a miss on choppy days, though the bay's reasonably sheltered.

You'll want a couple of hours minimum if you're doing anything beyond the shortest harbour potter. Bring a windproof even in summer - it's noticeably fresher out there than on land. If you're staying at Polmanter or Haven Riviere Sands, both within easy reach of the harbour, this is a logical half-day activity to break up your park holiday. The town itself is worth a proper wander afterwards - fish and chips while watching the light change on the water is hard to beat.