LIZARD PENINSULA

The Lizard Peninsula is famed for its wild beauty, quiet coves and stunning coastline, stretching down towards the UK’s most southerly point. The main town is Helston, renowned for its Flora Dance in May; followed by Porthleven, where a three-day food and music festival attracts big names and crowds in April. Then there’s Mullion, and a host of small fishing communities including Coverack and Cadgwith.

Local landmarks include Goonhilly Earth Station, with its huge satellite dishes, and you can also find National Trust woodland and a freshwater lake at Penrose.

To the north there is the beautiful Helford River and tranquil havens such as Frenchman’s Creek made famous by Daphne du Maurier. There is also glorious coastline with popular beaches including Poldhu Cove, Church Cove and Kynance Cove attracting crowds in the summer.

Famous local wildlife includes the seals at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, and the Cornish national bird: the chough, with its red beak and legs. But at Flambards theme park, it’s the children who run wild!