Polperro Heritage Coast

The cliffs here drop sheer into the water, all rust-coloured rock and proper dramatic. Polperro Heritage Coast, just west of Looe, is one of those stretches where you can actually see why people banged on about Cornwall in the first place rather than just posting holiday snaps.

It's mostly a walking proposition. You're not going to find a visitor centre or a cafe selling pasties - this is about the coast path itself, the way the light hits the cliffs in late afternoon, maybe spotting a peregrine if you're lucky. The old fishing village of Polperro sits at the eastern end, all narrow streets and boats, which is worth an hour if you fancy poking about. But the real draw is the walk itself. Three or four miles in either direction will give you proper views without becoming a slog.

Take a packed lunch. Bring water. The path can be steep in places, and there's not much shelter once you're out there. It's free to walk, naturally, though parking near Polperro gets tight in summer weekends.

This suits walkers more than families with young kids - the terrain is uneven and there's not a lot to do once you've sat on a bench for twenty minutes. Families based at Tencreek or Killigarth Manor, both within a couple of miles, could easily work this into a day without it being the main event.

Go on a clear day, ideally not mid-August when everyone's here.