Shirehall Moor Local Nature Reserve

The moorland around Bodmin opens up properly once you hit Shirehall Moor Local Nature Reserve. It's genuine working countryside rather than manicured parkland - rough grass, gorse, and the kind of views that stretch for miles across Cornwall. You won't find a visitor centre or marked trails here. Instead, you're walking through proper moorland habitat where adders bask in summer and curlews call in spring. The reserve is free to access, and there's no defined opening hours business - it's landscape you move through rather than a destination with facilities.

Walkers will find this far more rewarding than families after a quick hour out. The terrain is boggy in patches, the paths aren't always obvious, and children will get bored if they're expecting a playground. But if you're doing a holiday at one of the nearby parks - Eden Valley Holiday Park is barely a mile away, or Par Sands if you're after something closer to the coast - this is an excellent stretch of leg that takes you away from the busy bits. Early morning or dusk are best if you want to spot wildlife. Spring and summer are obviously prettier, though the bleakness in winter has its own appeal.

There's no admission fee, no café, no gift shop. It's the sort of place you fit into a morning before heading into Bodmin town itself. Allow an hour minimum if you're just wandering, longer if you're serious about the birdwatching.