The Old Workshop Charlestown, Cscape Art, Sail Loft Emporium and The Craft Kiln

Charlestown's working harbour is lined with converted Victorian buildings that now house a cluster of creative spaces worth an hour or two of poking around. The Old Workshop, Cscape Art, Sail Loft Emporium, and The Craft Kiln sit cheek by jowl along the water, each offering something different - artists' studios, handmade goods, the sort of place where you might actually bump into people making things rather than just selling them.

You'll find potters at their wheels, painters in their studios, local craftspeople selling work that isn't mass-produced tat from a gift shop. It's proper low-key; the kind of spot where browsing is free and buying is optional. The setting itself - those tall-masted ships and period warehouses reflected in the water - gives the whole thing a distinctly nautical character that feels authentic rather than manufactured for tourists.

Families won't find a theme park experience here, but older kids and teenagers who aren't allergic to art will find it engaging. Adults who actually like independent makers and makers' spaces should definitely make the detour from the nearby holiday parks at East Crinnis or Pentewan Sands. It pairs well with a walk around the harbour itself.

Head down on a weekday if you can - weekends bring crowds and the narrow lofts can feel cramped. Most studios appear to be free to enter, though expect to pay for anything you want to take home. Allow a couple of hours if you're a thorough browser, forty minutes if you're just dipping in.