Retanna

A short drive will take you to famed Cornish coastal towns like Mousehole (45 minutes by car) with its pretty fishing harbour, Porthleven (15 minutes) known for its seafood cafés, and trendy Marazion (25 minutes), popular for its art galleries as well as its ease of access to Saint Michael’s Mount (half an hour); check tide times before crossing the water to tour the medieval abbey and exotic gardens. If kids are part of your holiday package, they’ll hopefully be entranced by the rescued otters, seals and penguins at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary (15 minutes). The sculpture trails and tropical glasshouses of The Eden Project (50 minutes) always keep youngsters entertained too, while you might want to tour the resurrected Victorian-era grounds at The Lost Gardens of Heligan (45 minutes) or follow the woodland walks at National Trust-owned Trengwainton (40 minutes). For family days on dreamy Cornish beaches, you have the choice of the golden stretches around Falmouth (20 minutes), while surfers can get their adrenaline hits at Praa (15 minutes), where there are also facilities for kayaking and paddleboarding.