Dunsdon National Nature Reserve, Car Park

The car park at Dunsdon is where most people start their walk into one of Cornwall's finest nature reserves, just a few miles south of Bude. It's straightforward enough - a modest spot where you leave the car and head out onto the coastal heathland. What draws you here are the paths that wind through gorse and heather, with views across the cliffs towards Widemouth Bay. The reserve itself is proper wild. You'll see adders if you're lucky, and the birdwatching is decent year-round, though spring and autumn are when things really get going. Families do come through, but it's not a manicured visitor experience - there are no facilities at the car park itself, so come prepared. Allow at least an hour for a proper walk, longer if you're stopping to spot wildlife or just sitting with the views. The terrain is open moorland, so it can be exposed and windy even when the forecast looks benign. This works well if you're based at Wooda Farm or Atlantic Horizons nearby - both excellent holiday parks for a week of exploring the north Cornwall coast. The reserve is free to access. Visit outside summer holidays if you want space; July and August bring day-trippers from Bude who don't always venture far from the car park. It's the kind of place that rewards patience and a decent pair of boots rather than dramatic photo ops.