Gratton Wood

The woodland around Gratton, just inland from Looe, is proper Cornish countryside - dense enough to feel properly secluded but small enough that you won't get lost for hours. Mostly deciduous, with good paths threading through, it's the sort of place where you can actually hear birds rather than screaming kids from the nearest beach.

Walkers get the most from this one. It's not dramatic terrain, no dramatic vistas at the top, but that's rather the point. You're looking at peaceful woodland rambles rather than Instagrammable summit views. Easy enough for families with decent walkers, though younger kids might find an hour sufficient before they start asking when lunch is. The paths are well-maintained without being over-manicured.

If you're basing yourself at Waterside or Tregoad Holiday Park - both five and a half miles away near Looe - this works as a genuinely pleasant morning before heading down to the coast. Lydcott Glamping sits at nearly six miles, so similar distance either way. You're looking at a couple of hours maximum, which slots neatly into a holiday schedule without demanding a full day commitment.

It's free to access, which helps. Bring decent shoes - it can get boggy after rain - and don't expect dramatic woodland: this is understated, working woodland rather than some romantic forest fantasy. Perfectly serviceable if you need a break from beaches and cream teas, but honest assessment? It's not why you've come to Cornwall. It's what you do when the weather's decent and you fancy something different.