Owls Gate

If you’re holidaying with kids, there may well be a headlong rush for the beach. You have plenty of options close by, from the tiny rocky cove at Bossiney to the cliff-backed sands at Trebarwith (both 15 minutes’ drive). Mad-keen surfers can head to Polzeath (half an hour), where there are surf schools and reliable waves in Padstow Bay. Talking of Padstow (40 minutes), foodies can feast on fish and chips, shellfish from street stalls and award-winning cuisine in this smart Cornish enclave of gastronomy. Other pretty-as-a-picture seaside towns to have a nose around may include the fishing villages of Boscastle (20 minutes) or Port Isaac (25 minutes), both with a sprinkling of harbourside pubs and cafés. To get a feel for the ancient mysteries of Cornwall, visit Tintagel (20 minutes) and explore the vast castle standing dramatically over the sea, forever linked with the legends of King Arthur and Merlin. Head inland to Bodmin Moor and journey further back in time with bracing hikes up to the prehistoric stone circles at Stannon (20 minutes), King Arthur’s Hall and Trippet (both half an hour).