Goonhilly Downs National Nature Reserve Walk Car Park

The walk from Goonhilly Downs car park takes you out onto one of Cornwall's wildest stretches of moorland - proper windswept stuff, with hardly a tree in sight. The reserve spans over 3,000 acres of heathland, and on a clear day you can see right across to the coast. It's the sort of place where the weather changes every ten minutes, so come prepared for that.

What makes it special is the sheer emptiness. No crowds, no visitor centre nonsense, just you and the gorse, heather, and whatever birds happen to be about. Adders sun themselves on the paths in summer (harmless if you leave them alone), and it's genuinely good for spotting buzzards and kestrels. The terrain is fairly flat but boggy in places - wellies aren't a bad shout after rain.

This works brilliantly as a breather between seaside days if you're staying nearby. The Secret Garden Glamping is barely two miles away, and Henry's Campsite sits just over five miles down the road, so it's the kind of place you can slip away to for an hour or grab a longer afternoon hike. There's no facility here - no café, no loos, nothing - so bring what you need.

Walkers and nature spotters will love it. It's less thrilling for small children who need constant entertainment, and it can feel a bit bleak on grey days. But if you want to feel genuinely away from things while staying in the far west, this delivers.