Trewithen Gate

The gate itself is barely noticeable until you're upon it - a modest wooden structure marking the entrance to what feels like your own slice of Cornish countryside. Trewithen Gate nature reserve sits just inland from Newlyn, that working fishing port everyone flocks to, and it's the kind of place locals know but visitors miss entirely.

What you get is proper coastal moorland habitat, the sort of windswept, boggy terrain that takes patience to appreciate. It's not dramatic. No cliff paths, no Instagram moments. Instead, you're here for the birds - adders and lizards too if you're lucky - and for the quiet. The reserve protects ground-nesting species, so there are restrictions on where you can walk, but that's rather the point. It keeps the place from being trampled into submission.

This works best if you're already staying nearby at somewhere like Roselands Caravan Camping Park, only five miles up the road, and you want a proper nature walk away from the crowds. Families with young children might find it dull - there's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards to speak of, just you and the habitat. But keen birdwatchers or anyone after a genuine bit of Cornish wild will find it worthwhile, especially during breeding season when you might spot curlew or redshank.

Allow a couple of hours if you're walking properly. Bring binoculars and respect the cordoned-off areas. It's free to enter, which is just how it should be.