Killacourt

A short walk from Newquay's seafront sprawl, Killacourt is a proper breath of fresh air - a nature reserve that feels genuinely wild despite being so close to the holiday parks dotting the coastline. The reserve protects a small pocket of coastal heathland and woodland, the sort of place where you might spot gorse in full yellow bloom or catch sight of a kestrel working the thermals overhead.

It's not huge, which means you won't spend hours here, but that's rather the point. A ramble around the paths takes maybe 45 minutes unless you dawdle, and the ground stays mostly manageable underfoot. Walkers and nature enthusiasts will get the most out of it - bring binoculars if you're into birds, and a decent camera if the light's right. Families with younger kids might find it a bit limited; there's nowhere to burn serious energy, and older children can cover the whole thing at a gallop.

The real value is that it exists at all. Newquay's a built-up place, and Killacourt offers genuine habitat rather than manicured parkland. Free to wander (though check locally before visiting), it works brilliantly as a stop-off between beach days or when you're staying nearby at Sunhaven or any of the other caravan parks jammed around the town.

Go early morning if you can - the light's better and you'll have the place largely to yourself. Late afternoon works too, especially in summer when the heathland catches the golden hour properly.