Mawgan in Meneage

Walking across the fields near Helston, you'll stumble on something most visitors to Cornwall miss entirely - the earthwork remains of Mawgan in Meneage, a medieval settlement that tells you far more about real life in medieval Cornwall than any gift shop ever could.

What you're looking at is the physical evidence of how people actually lived eight centuries ago. The site consists of a series of low banks and ditches marking out the boundaries of longhouses and communal spaces. There's no fancy interpretation centre or reconstructed buildings, just the raw landscape archaeology left to speak for itself. You'll need to walk the site properly to understand it - stand in one spot and it's just bumpy ground, but trace the field boundaries and suddenly the medieval settlement plan clicks into place.

History buffs and landscape archaeologists will find this genuinely absorbing. Families with young children might struggle - there's nothing interactive or obviously exciting to look at, and the nearest town Helston doesn't offer much compensation if the site disappoints. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're taking time to read the lie of the land.

It's free, naturally, and there's no formal access restrictions. Your timing doesn't matter much except after heavy rain when the ground gets boggy. Stay Wild and The Secret Garden Glamping are within striking distance if you're basing yourself in the area - combine this with the Cornish coast walks and you've got a proper exploring trip.