Bluebell Woods

In addition to hills scattered with mining remains, Bodmin Moor (25 minutes’ drive) has the Colliford reservoir, with trout fishing, picnic areas and birdwatching, plus surrounding moorland walks. There are also several stone circles (Stannon and Trippet, for example), plus the Cheesewring, a monumental rock formation. At the Lost Gardens of Heligan (half an hour), a deep valley with its own microclimate is home to the Jungle, a tropical garden with palm, banana and other exotic trees, plus a bamboo forest. Another area of the gardens, the Pleasure Grounds, displays a colourful collection of camellias and rhododendrons. Head to Newquay (half an hour), on the north coast of Cornwall, for surfing beaches (if you’re a beginner, there’s a surf school on Fistral Beach) or to join a marine safari looking for dolphins and seals. Choppy seas don’t allow boat trips? You can still get your quota of sea creatures at the Blue Reef Aquarium.