Wheal Friendly Retreat

The old mining landscape around St. Agnes holds more than just industrial history - Wheal Friendly Retreat is a nature reserve that's reclaimed one of Cornwall's worked-out tin mines and turned it into something genuinely worthwhile. You get proper woodland walks, grassland that's buzzing with wildlife, and the kind of peace you're after when you've had enough of the coastal crowds.

This is best for people who actually like walking and spotting things rather than those wanting a quick Instagram stop. Birdwatchers will get the most from it - the reserve attracts some decent species - and if you're into wildflowers and butterflies, spring and summer are your times. The walking is straightforward enough; nothing technical, just the sort of thing families with reasonably mobile kids can manage without complaint.

Access and fees aren't entirely clear online, which is typical for smaller reserves, so ring ahead before you visit or check with the visitor centre in St. Agnes itself. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing the longer routes, less if you just fancy a stroll.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Perran View is closest at just over a mile away - this works well as a morning activity before heading to the beach. It breaks up the holiday nicely without requiring a drive. Anchor Barrow Campsite is similarly close, making it an easy detour from wherever you're staying locally.