Soarns Shepherd's Huts

There’s no shortage of big-hitting attractions in this corner of Cornwall; first among equals may be The Eden Project (half an hour’s drive), where it’s easy to spend a day wandering among rare plantings in the biospheres and spotting wacky art installations. The Lost Gardens of Heligan (20 minutes) are another top local choice, where you can wander woodland paths to hidden lakes and sculptures on a 200-acre estate. Head south to the spectacular Roseland Peninsula (25 minutes) for a choice of beaches – the site owners recommend Porthcurnick (20 minutes, backed by high cliffs), Towan (half an hour, good rock-pooling potential) and Carne (20 minutes), where you can visit a former Cold War bunker. If you’re surfing mad, make for Perranporth beach (25 minutes) on the north coast for consistent waves and plenty of swell. Or how about discovering some of Cornwall’s prettiest villages? St Mawes (half an hour) has a Tudor-era castle to explore and dolphin-spotting cruises to book, while lively Mevagissey (25 minutes) is the place for a snoop around the fishing harbour and arty boutiques.