Cotehele Quay Discovery Centre

The river Tamar cuts through this part of Cornwall with real drama, and Cotehele Quay sits right on the water's edge like something from another century. It's a working riverside discovery centre where you can actually see how boats were built and repaired - the sort of place where the past doesn't feel like it's been polished up for tourists. You wander around restored Victorian workshops, peek into the restored Shamrock sailing barge (which you can board), and genuinely understand what life was like when the quay was a proper working port. The centrepiece is learning about the local shipwrights and miners who kept this place alive.

It's excellent for families with kids old enough to read and explore - under-fives might struggle with the lack of interactive hands-on stuff. History buffs and maritime enthusiasts will lose an hour easily here. Allow two to three hours if you're thorough, less if you're just passing through.

Admission is free, which feels generous given the quality of what's on offer. Spring and autumn are best - summer gets rammed with the holiday park crowd from Sunnyside Eco Glamping and Woodovis Holiday Park just a few miles away. Winter can be grey and damp, though that does add atmosphere.

The quay sits within the larger Cotehele estate, so you can combine this with woodland walks and the main house if you've got a full day. From Tavistock it's under an hour's drive, making it a solid half-day option when the weather's decent rather than an essential pilgrimage.