Chimney

Standing alone on the Cornish landscape near St. Hilary, this industrial relic tells the story of Cornwall's mining heritage in the starkest possible terms. The stone chimney stack rises from what was once a bustling mine engine house, now reduced to foundations and weathered walls that barely hint at the machinery that once thundered here.

History buffs will find themselves drawn to the engineering details still visible in the stonework. The way the flue has been constructed, the quality of the granite blocks, the careful positioning on the hillside - it all speaks to the Victorian ambition that drove Cornwall's tin and copper boom. It's a proper piece of industrial archaeology, though don't expect interpretation boards or guided tours.

Families staying at nearby Lanyon Holiday Park will find it makes for a decent leg-stretch, especially if you're exploring the network of footpaths that crisscross this part of west Cornwall. Kids might lose interest after ten minutes unless they're the sort who enjoy scrambling over old stones and imagining steam engines. The walk from the road is fairly gentle, and you can easily combine it with a longer ramble towards the coast.

Allow half an hour unless you're particularly keen on industrial heritage. It's the kind of spot that rewards a bit of background reading beforehand - otherwise it's just another pile of old stones in a field.