St Just-in-Roseland Church

The churchyard at St Just-in-Roseland is properly magical - the sort of place that makes you forget Truro's only a few miles away. You descend through subtropical palms and flowering shrubs to reach this 13th-century church that sits practically at the water's edge, with the Roseland Peninsula spreading out behind it. The church itself is modest, done up in local granite, but it's the setting that gets you. Walking the graveyard paths, you're surrounded by ancient headstones half-buried in moss, and the whole thing feels genuinely undisturbed by time.

It's brilliant for anyone who appreciates old churches without the tourist crowds. History buffs will appreciate the medieval fabric, but honestly, walkers and photographers come away more satisfied here than architecture enthusiasts might expect. Allow an hour - thirty minutes in the church and grounds, then time to sit by the water if the weather's decent. It costs nothing, and there's limited parking just above the churchyard.

If you're camping nearby - Trethem Mill is practically on the doorstep, less than a mile away - this makes an easy morning's stroll before heading to the bigger attractions on the Roseland. Veryan Camping, six miles north, positions you well for exploring the wider area. Summer's lovely here, though spring and autumn visitors often find it more peaceful. The walk down is steep in places, so it's not ideal if you've got very small children in a pushchair, but most families manage it fine.