Southernmost point of Mainland UK

You'll find yourself at the very tip of mainland Britain, standing on Lizard Point where the land simply runs out and the sea takes over. It's a proper bit of geography - the southernmost point of England proper, not some rocky outcrop you can only spot from a boat. The walk down to the headland from the car park takes about fifteen minutes and opens onto an almost austere landscape: cliffs, grass, the constant wind, and horizon that stretches all the way to France on a clear day.

What makes it worth the trip isn't any fancy visitor centre or attractions - there aren't any. It's the simple fact of being at the edge. Walkers love it because the South West Coast Path runs right through here, and the walk along the cliffs either side is genuinely excellent. The geology buffs get a kick out of the serpentine rock formations, all dark and unusual. Families find it manageable enough as a destination, though there's nothing to occupy kids for hours - it's more about the experience of reaching a point on a map than spending an afternoon.

Heading here from Helston, you're about twenty minutes' drive away. The nearby Henry's Camp Site makes a solid base for a coastal holiday, and you can pair this landmark easily with other South West Coast Path walks. Free to visit, naturally. Spring and early autumn are best - the wind can be relentless in winter, and summer brings crowds. Allow an hour to take it in properly, walk around, and let the scale of the thing sink in.