Greena Moor Nature Reserve

Greena Moor is a proper working landscape rather than a manicured nature reserve - moorland that feels genuinely wild, sitting inland from Bude where the earth gets boggy and the wind has real teeth. You'll find yourself walking through heather and gorse, spotting adders if you're lucky and birds of prey circling overhead. The reserve doesn't come with visitor facilities or marked trails in the traditional sense, which means it rewards those who like to pick their own path and read the land as they go.

It's the sort of place that appeals most to serious walkers and naturalists rather than families after a quick outing. Allow two to three hours if you're doing a proper circuit, though you can dip in for an hour if time's tight. The moorland changes character depending on season - late summer turns it golden, while spring brings fresh growth that feels almost frantic after winter.

Since there's no admission fee, the only cost is your own petrol from Bude, which sits just a few miles away. If you're staying at Bude Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Pencuke Farm - both excellent bases - Greena Moor works well as a morning walk before heading to the coast. It's the kind of stop that doesn't photograph brilliantly on Instagram but sticks with you. Proper Cornwall without the crowds.