Hawk's Tor

The walk up Hawk's Tor isn't particularly long, but it's steep enough to get your heart going. From Launceston, it's an easy drive out to the moorland trailhead, and within twenty minutes you're scrambling up rough granite slopes with proper Cornish moorland stretching in all directions.

What makes it worthwhile isn't the summit itself - just a rocky outcrop, really - but the views back towards Bodmin Moor and the sense of being genuinely out there on exposed high ground. On a clear day you can see for miles. The wind tends to be keen at the top, so go prepared.

It's a solid choice for walkers who want something achievable without being trivial. Families with capable kids will manage it fine, though younger ones might find the rocky bits a bit tricky on the descent. Most people allow two hours there and back, which feels about right.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby glamping sites - Trewithen Farm or Ekopod are both excellent options - this makes a natural morning or late afternoon outing. The access is free and straightforward. Don't expect crowds or facilities; there's just the tor and you. That's rather the appeal. Worth doing once during a Cornish break, though it's not the sort of place you'd linger for hours. Go for the walk and the air rather than expecting dramatic monuments or visitor experiences.