The Lizard Heritage Coast

The Lizard Peninsula juts into the sea like Cornwall's sharpest knife, and the Heritage Coast that runs along it is absolutely relentless in its beauty. Red and purple cliffs drop away to black sand beaches, with the landscape doing something genuinely dramatic as you move between rocky outcrops and hidden coves. It's proper rugged stuff - the kind of coastline that makes you understand why sailors feared this stretch.

This is walker territory, full stop. The South West Coast Path runs right through here, and depending on your fitness level, you can tackle anything from a gentle afternoon stroll to a serious hike between Coverack and Kynance Cove. Most people come for the views rather than any single 'attraction' - there's no visitor centre or entry fee to negotiate, which is refreshing. You're paying with your legs, not your wallet.

History buffs will find plenty to chew on: shipwreck stories cling to these cliffs like seaweed, and the old lifeboat stations tell proper tales of rescue and danger. Families with younger kids might struggle on the longer routes - the paths can be steep and unforgiving - but Kynance Cove itself (about an hour's walk from the nearest car park) rewards the effort with turquoise water and white sand that feels almost Mediterranean.

Stay at The Secret Garden Glamping, just 1.7 miles away, and you've got yourself in the right pocket of Cornwall. Base yourself there for a few days and you'll exhaust neither the paths nor your patience. Go when the weather's decent - this coast doesn't forgive bad days.