St Mary

The church sits solid and grey in Helston's town centre, all medieval stone and tall windows. St Mary's is proper old - we're talking 15th century foundations, though bits have been added and fiddled with since. You'll spot the tower from the high street, which is useful if you've wandered off into the shops and need reorienting.

Inside it's all vaulted ceilings and worn flagstones. There's some decent stained glass if you're into that sort of thing, and the usual brass plaques embedded in the floor telling you about long-dead parishioners. Light floods through the windows on a clear day, which is when the place really shows its age - in a good way. It's quiet. That matters.

Historically-minded visitors will get more from it than most, especially if you've already done the walk around Helston itself. Families with young kids might find twenty minutes enough; the church doesn't have the interactive bells or climbing opportunities that keep children entertained. Walkers heading out from Henry's Camp Site - about two miles away - could easily pop in before or after a longer trek round the area.

Free to visit, as these places usually are. No fancy opening hours sign, so assume standard daylight access unless the door's locked (which does happen). On a quiet afternoon between May and September, when you're staying nearby, it's worth the detour. Don't make it your day's centrepiece, though.