Lowerton Moor

The moorland around Bodmin rolls on endlessly - gorse, heather, and the kind of wind that reminds you why people fled to the lowlands centuries ago. Lowerton Moor is part of Cornwall Wildlife Trust's network, a sprawling nature reserve where you'll find yourself genuinely alone if you visit on a weekday. The habitat here shifts between open heathland and boggy patches, with adders sunbathing on the paths and, if you're lucky, a hobby hawk cutting overhead. It's not dramatic - no clifftop views, no golden beaches. What it is, instead, is properly wild in a way that surprises most visitors expecting Cornish chocolate-box scenery.

Walkers get the most from this place. The moor demands proper boots and patience - three or four hours will let you loop the reserve without rushing, though you can do a decent hour-long wander if time's tight. Birdwatchers should come in spring when the curlews are calling; botanists in late summer when the heather blooms. Families with restless children might find it thin - there's no facilities, no obvious "attractions", just open country. That's either its strength or its weakness depending on your lot.

Admission is free, which is fair enough given there's nothing here but the moorland itself. It links perfectly with a stay at Mena Farm just down the road - the touring park sits close enough that you could pitch up, then escape into proper wilderness within ten minutes. Bodmin town provides supplies and the usual services. Visit when the weather's decent; this place is miserable in rain.