Newlyn Green

Newlyn Green sits just inland from the fishing village of Newlyn, and it's a proper working nature reserve rather than a polished tourist spot. You get a mix of wetland and woodland habitat here - the sort of place where locals come to do actual birdwatching rather than pose for Instagram.

The walk through is gentle. Paths wind through reed beds where you might spot water voles if you're lucky, and the wooded sections give good cover for migrating warblers in spring. It's not dramatic - no cliff views or moorland vistas - but that's rather the point. You're watching the land do what it does naturally.

This is ideal territory for serious birders and anyone wanting a quieter alternative to the busier South West coast path sections. Kids will get something out of it if they're the sort to enjoy spotting things rather than climbing things, though patience is required. Allow a couple of hours to wander without rushing.

The reserve works well alongside a caravan break at Roselands, just 5 miles away near Penzance. It's close enough for a morning visit without eating into your beach time, and genuinely worth the detour if you're into wildlife or simply after some breathing space away from the seaside crowds. Newlyn itself is worth poking around afterwards - the harbour and fish market are as real as Cornwall gets.