Downderry Memorial Gardens

The gardens sit quietly above Downderry village, a modest coastal reserve that rewards a gentle wander more than it demands your afternoon. It's the sort of place where you notice things - gorse in flower, a particular angle of light through the trees, the sound of gulls drifting up from the cliffs. The paths are easy enough, threading through native scrubland and coastal grassland, with benches positioned to catch views towards the sea. Bring binoculars if you're into spotting birds; the reserve attracts migrant species depending on the season, and locals swear by it during spring and autumn.

Walkers passing through Widegates on their way to somewhere bigger often miss it entirely, which is rather the point. You're looking at perhaps forty minutes here if you take it slowly, an hour if you explore both the upper and lower sections thoroughly. There's no admission charge and no formal facilities that we could find - it's maintained by volunteers, which explains both its charm and its slightly rough-around-the-edges feel.

For a holiday at one of the nearby parks - Lydcott Glamping is particularly close at under three miles - this works as a morning stop before heading into Looe or tackling the coastal path. It's not a destination in itself, but rather the sort of reserve that makes sense when you're already in the area. Families with older kids who enjoy spotting wildlife will get something from it; those after dramatic clifftop views or formal gardens should look elsewhere. The real appeal is the quietness.