The Jungle

Walk into The Jungle near Saint Austell and you're immediately swallowed by proper dense woodland - the kind where the canopy blocks out most of the sky and you can barely hear the car park behind you. It's a working forest, managed for timber, so don't expect manicured trails or theme-park pretence. What you get instead are winding paths through towering conifers, dappled light, and the genuine article: somewhere wild that hasn't been softened for tourists.

Families with older kids will find it brilliant for letting them loose. There's enough space to properly explore without the supervision anxiety of open moorland, and young walkers who enjoy a bit of atmosphere rather than views will eat it up. History types, less so - there's nothing ancient about the place. Bring wellies though. The forest floor stays boggy even days after rain, and that's half the charm.

The main draw is simply the walk itself. Allow an hour to ninety minutes depending on your pace and how many little diversions you take. It's free to enter, which makes it excellent value when you're based at one of the nearby parks - Tregarton Park is barely two miles away, making this a proper bonus for a rainy afternoon. Treveague and Veryan sites are equally accessible if you're looking for a quick forest fix between beach days.

Go early on weekends if you can. The place gets quieter as the day wears on, and the light through the trees improves. It's the sort of spot that rewards you for turning up rather than waiting for the right conditions.