Embury Beacon

The walk up to Embury Beacon, just outside Bude, rewards you with one of those rare moments when you understand why Iron Age people chose to build here. From the summit - all 321 metres of it - you get proper 360-degree views across the north Cornish coast, and on a clear day you can see for miles inland too.

What you're actually looking at are the remains of an Iron Age fort, with defensive ramparts still visible if you know what you're looking for. The site isn't dramatic in the way some archaeological spots are - there's no dramatic stonework or reconstructed buildings. But that's rather the point. You're standing where Bronze Age communities kept watch, and the landscape hasn't fundamentally changed around you.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The approach is straightforward enough from Bude, though the final climb is a bit steep for what it is. Allow two hours including the walk up, time at the top, and the descent. It's free, obviously - there's no visitor centre, just open moorland and history.

If you're staying at either Atlantic Horizons or Coastal Cabins Glamping nearby, this works well as a morning outing before heading to beaches like Summerleaze. The views alone justify the effort, and you'll have the place largely to yourself. Just bring a wind-resistant jacket - exposure up here is genuine.