Pentewan Hill

The walk up Pentewan Hill rewards you with views across the clay country and down to the coast - proper Cornish landscape, all red earth and green fields rolling towards the sea. It's a modest climb from Saint Austell, nothing that'll leave you gasping, though the paths can get a bit muddy if the weather's been dodgy.

You're looking at around an hour up and back if you take it steady, maybe longer if you stop to photograph the views (and you will). The hill itself isn't dramatic - no sudden summit or trig point drama - but the panorama justifies the leg work. On a clear day you can trace the coast towards Mevagissey and beyond. Walkers and photographers will get real value here; families with younger kids might find it a touch ordinary unless they're keen on the views.

It sits perfectly into a wider holiday park stay in the area. Pentewan Sands Holiday Park is practically on the doorstep, while The Meadows and Heligan Caravan Park are just a mile or so away if you want somewhere with more facilities. Combine it with a morning at the beach below or an afternoon visit to the Lost Gardens of Heligan - you'll be within spitting distance.

Free to access, no facilities on the hill itself, so bring water. Early morning is best if you want solitude; late afternoon light catches those red cliffs beautifully. Not Cornwall's most famous walk, but that's precisely why it's worth doing.