Holywell Dunes

The dunes at Holywell stretch back from the beach in proper golden sweeps, the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people move to Cornwall. This isn't a manicured visitor attraction with a visitor centre and a gift shop - it's just raw coast, working dunes that shift and reshape themselves with the seasons. You get decent views across the beach from the top, and on a clear day the sight lines stretch for miles along the north coast.

Walkers will find it genuinely rewarding. The paths wind through marram grass and coastal plants, and it's the sort of place where you can easily lose an hour without realising. Families won't struggle either - kids usually enjoy scrambling up and down dunes, though it's not a supervised playground, so they need proper supervision. Bring sturdy shoes; the sand gets boggy in places after rain.

There's no entry fee that I'm aware of, and you can rock up whenever you like. The best light is late afternoon in summer when the dunes catch the low sun properly. Winter's quieter if you prefer fewer people about.

It works well as part of a broader coastal walk from Holywell itself, which sits right on the beach. If you're based at Anchor Barrow Campsite or Perran View Holiday Park, both just a few miles inland, the dunes make an easy half-day outing without feeling like you're ticking off a tourist checklist. Real coast, that's all.