Boscawen Park

The River Fal cuts through Boscawen Park with proper woodland on both sides, and you get the sense straightaway that this is the sort of place locals know about rather than tourists stumbling upon by accident. It's a nature reserve just outside Truro, and the main draw is walking - there are paths through the trees, meadows that shift with the seasons, and stretches where you can actually hear the river rather than the sound of traffic.

Walkers will spend a good hour or two here without feeling rushed, though families with young children might find it a bit thin on attractions if the kids are after something more entertaining than trees and birdsong. The reserve is properly managed, so the paths are walkable in all but the worst conditions. Spring and early summer are worth timing it for - the bluebells and woodland flowers make it feel less like you're trudging through scrub and more like an actual outing.

Admission appears to be free, which is decent. The location works well if you're staying at Carnon Downs Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just down the road - barely three kilometres away - or if you're based at Trethem Mill or Trevarth further out. It's the sort of place that fills an afternoon without drama, a proper breathing space between Truro and the coast. Don't expect dramatic views or rare wildlife, just honest woodland and water where you can actually think.