Top park

The moorland here rolls on endlessly, proper windswept and dramatic - you'll understand why people come back to this stretch of Cornwall year after year. Top park is a nature reserve that feels genuinely wild, the kind of place where you can walk for hours without bumping into the theme-park crowds that plague other bits of the county.

It's working land first and foremost. You get gorse, heather, and on a good day, views that stretch across the peninsula. The walking is straightforward enough - no scrambling required - though the paths can get boggy in winter. Most people allow two to three hours, which gives you time to loop around without rushing.

Historically minded visitors will pick up on the Bronze Age settlements dotted across the moor, though there's not much to see if you don't know what you're looking for. Families with younger kids might find it a bit repetitive after the first mile - it's not a destination with attractions or facilities, just honest moorland.

Head here when the weather's decent. Autumn and early spring are cracking, with golden light across the heather and fewer people about. Summer gets busier, which feels wrong for a place this exposed.

It's barely four miles from Praa Sands, so easily combined with a coastal walk or a pint in the village. If you're staying at The Secret Garden Glamping, this is a proper option for a morning sortie before heading down to the beaches.