Porthcurno and the Minack Theatre

Porthcurno is a stunning beach of fine white shell sand and clear blue-green water in a steep cove near Land's End. On the cliff above is the Minack Theatre, an open-air theatre carved into the granite cliff by Rowena Cade from the 1930s, with the sea as its backdrop. Plays and concerts run from spring to autumn; bring a cushion and a blanket. You can visit during the day too.

The Telegraph Museum in the valley tells how Porthcurno was once the hub of the world's undersea telegraph cables. The beach is beautiful but the currents can be strong; swim when the lifeguards are on duty.