Chillsworthy

Bude (20 minutes’ drive) is known as a surf destination, but that’s not all there is to do there. Go crabbing at Crooklets Beach or hire out a beach hut at Summerleaze Beach. When you’re done searching for shelled critters or snoozing on the sand, there are rowing boats or pedalos for hire on the Bude canal and a canalside heritage centre with exhibitions on Bude’s geology. Elsewhere on the coast, the National Trust’s Sandymouth Bay Beach (25 minutes) is flanked by cliffs with gorgeous coastal walks and Crackington Haven (35 minutes) is yet another attractive stretch of gold sand with rockpools galore. Inland, the activities continue full steam at Roadford Lake (half an hour), there are canoes, paddleboards and sailing boats for hire, as well as activities such as archery and high ropes courses. Searching for a special picnic spot too? If the clifftops don’t quite take your fancy, the National Trust’s Dunsland (20 minutes) has parklands belonging to a manor house (and there’s lots of wildlife to spy on).