Widegates

Deep Cornish countryside sprawls around this quiet farming hamlet, where ancient woodlands meet rolling green fields. Widegates sits in that forgotten corner of southeast Cornwall where tourists rarely venture - and that's precisely its charm.

Pathada Wood and Trehawke Wood frame the village with proper old-growth forest, the kind where you can walk for hours without seeing another soul. The wooded valleys here are criss-crossed with bridleways that were once smugglers' paths, leading down toward the coast at Seaton Beach.

Port Eliot dominates the nearby landscape - a magnificent estate that's been home to the same family for centuries. The house and gardens open periodically, offering glimpses of one of Cornwall's grandest properties. St Germans Priory, just a short drive away, houses some of the finest Norman architecture in the county.

Seaton Country Park provides easy coastal access without the crowds of Polperro or Looe. The beach here is proper Cornish shingle, backed by red sandstone cliffs that glow amber in evening light. St Germans railway station connects you to the main line, though you'll want a car for exploring the maze of narrow lanes that web this area.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Tencreek or Killigarth Manor puts you within striking distance of both the South East Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the fishing ports along this stretch of coast. It's ideal territory for walkers who prefer their paths uncrowded and their pubs genuinely local.