Penzance

This working fishing port at Britain's south-western tip feels properly Cornish - none of the gloss of Padstow or Fowey. Salt-crusted trawlers bob alongside the harbour wall while seagulls wheel overhead, eyeing the day's catch. The town centre's got that lived-in quality you find in proper fishing communities.

Land's End sits just eight miles west, and yes, it's touristy as anything with its theme park attractions like The End to End Story museum and Aardman presents: A Grand Experience. But the clifftop drama remains spectacular. The granite headland drops 200 feet to churning Atlantic waters, and on clear days you can spot the Isles of Scilly floating on the horizon.

Back towards town, the coast path reveals some cracking archaeology. Treryn Dinas iron age fort perches on the clifftops, while Maen Castle offers another glimpse into Cornwall's ancient past. Down at Trevescan Cliff, the views stretch endlessly westward - this really does feel like the edge of the world.

Geology buffs will appreciate the old mining heritage scattered about. Waterwheel pits and various Adit entrances remind you that this landscape was once Britain's tin capital. The industrial archaeology sits oddly with today's tourist attractions like The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse miniature golf course.

Getting here couldn't be simpler - the A30 runs straight to Penzance from the M5. Trains reach the end of the line at Penzance station, making this one of Cornwall's most accessible corners. Staying at one of the holiday parks around Land's End puts you right at the heart of this dramatic coastline, with easy access to both the working port and the wild Atlantic shores.