Prideaux Wood Nature Reserve

The woodland walk at Prideaux takes about 45 minutes if you're moving at a decent pace, though most people will linger. You're moving through proper old-growth broadleaf forest - oak, beech, ash - the kind of place where you actually notice the quiet. Cornwall Wildlife Trust manages it, and they've done the sensible thing of leaving it relatively wild rather than landscaping it into submission.

It's genuinely good for families with older kids and anyone serious about spotting woodland birds. Bring binoculars if you've got them. The paths are uneven in places - nothing treacherous, but waterlogged in winter - so this isn't the spot if someone in your group needs flat, easy going. Spring and early summer are when it matters most; the bluebells are worth timing a visit around, and the bird activity is considerably more interesting than, say, November.

Near St Blazey, it sits nicely into a wider exploring pattern around the par area. Mena Farm, just 4.5 miles away, makes a solid base if you're after a proper camping or glamping setup - close enough that you can do this as a morning walk without commitment. The reserve is free and run on trust principles, though donations help. Allow an hour and a half if you're not rushing, have kids who want to investigate things, or simply enjoy standing still and listening.

If you're after dramatic Cornish coastal reserves, this isn't it. It's interior woodland, proper and unshowy. Worth the trip if you actually like trees.