Bodmin

The old county town sits right at the heart of Cornwall, though most visitors speed past on their way to the coast without realising what they're missing. Bodmin feels properly Cornish - not the sanitised version you get in the tourist honeypots, but the real deal where locals still outnumber second-home owners.

Bodmin Moor stretches endlessly to the north and east, all granite tors and ancient stone circles that make you feel like you've stepped back a thousand years. It's wild country up there, perfect for serious walking when the weather's kind. The town itself might not win beauty contests, but it's got character and some decent pubs if you know where to look.

Lostwithiel makes for a lovely day out, just a few miles south with its proper medieval feel and the excellent Fowey Valley Cidery & Distillery for a proper taste of local produce. The little museum there tells the story better than most tourist boards manage. Castle Brewery does a cracking pint too, if you're that way inclined.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the A30 runs right past, and Lostwithiel station connects you to the mainline if you're coming by train. It's about 20 minutes from the Eden Project and half an hour from both Padstow and Fowey, making it a clever base for exploring without the coastal crowds.

Staying at one of the holiday parks around here makes perfect sense. You're close enough to nip down to the south coast beaches - Par Sands is barely 15 minutes away - but far enough inland to avoid the summer madness and inflated prices that come with being right on the water.