National Trust - Lantivet Bay

The walk down to Lantivet Bay feels properly Cornish - steep coastal path, salt wind, that particular shade of blue-grey you only get when the Atlantic's in a mood. It's a National Trust stretch of coast, which means the land's protected and the crowds haven't quite ruined it yet. The beach itself is modest, sheltered by high cliffs, with dark sand and good rock pools when the tide's out. Worth a solid hour if you're properly exploring; kids will either love the scrambling about or get bored within twenty minutes depending on age.

The real draw is the walk itself rather than arriving somewhere. From Pont you're looking at decent rambling through proper countryside before the coastal views kick in. The path can be boggy in winter and the descent's a bit steep for anyone with dodgy knees - the reward is solitude, though, which counts for something. Summer weekends it fills up with holiday makers from the nearby parks, but weekday mornings are genuinely peaceful.

Tremeer Farm's yurts are just 1.3 miles away, making this a straightforward morning outing if you're staying there. The bigger holiday parks - Killigarth Manor and Tencreek are four to five miles out - work fine if you're based in that area and fancying a proper coastal walk rather than a quick beach visit. Bring a packed lunch and sit up on the cliffs rather than down on the sand. Free to visit, no facilities, so come prepared.