Luxury self-catering accommodation in Porthcurno

This pretty cove was once voted best beach in the world, where the rocky surroundings make it a perfect location for the Minack Theatre, an open-air theatre carved into the cliff face high above the Atlantic. From your luxury beach hut, pack a picnic (and a cushion) for magical moonlit performances. The beach has a café and seasonal restaurant, with another eaterie at the Minack. Curiously, there is a world-famous Telegraph Museum here as the village was chosen as a major cable station, thanks to its sheltered locale; beautiful sepia shots still exist of men pulling cables up the sandy slopes.

History is plentiful in the walks and pathways here; round a headland at nearby Porthgwarra is an ancient mining tunnel cut into the rock, later utilised by fishermen and farmers. Once here, you are almost at iconic Lands End, where stunning scenery is the reward for reaching the southwesterly point of mainland Britain. Twitchers with good binoculars can keep an eye out for gannets and fulmars, the occasional kite and buzzard, plus seals and dolphins playing out to sea. Walk east and you'll find Logan Rock, where a naturally-balanced granite slab hovers just above the sea.