Old Plantation

The woodland around Old Plantation near Launceston feels properly ancient - tall trees, dappled light, the kind of place where you half-expect to bump into someone from the 18th century. It's a genuine forest walk rather than a manicured park, so bring decent boots if it's been wet. You're moving through actual woodland here, not a tourist trail with benches every hundred metres, which is either brilliant or a bit much depending on your mood.

It works well for walkers who want something genuine without the crowds you'd get at more famous Cornish beauty spots. Kids under ten might find it a touch dull - there's no waterfall or dramatic vista to aim for, just trees and quiet. Older children and adults who actually like forests will get more from it. The fact it's free and open access makes it a proper local secret rather than a destination in itself.

Give yourself a good hour or two to wander without rushing. Early morning is when it's best - fewer people, better light through the canopy. It slots nicely into a wider Launceston visit, particularly if you're based at one of the glamping spots nearby like Trewithen Farm or Ekopod. Both are close enough that you could do a morning walk here, grab lunch in town, then head back to your accommodation without it feeling like a trek.

Honestly? It's worth an afternoon if you're in the area and the weather's decent. Don't make a special trip just for this, but if you're exploring north Cornwall, it beats scrolling Instagram at the holiday park.