The sandy delights of the north coast are 5 miles away; Tintagel Castle (01840 770328) and beach is great for a day out. Polzeath beach (01208 862003) is particularly good for surfing, with several different surf schools jostling for space beside ice-cream shops. You can go seal-watching at the Rumps, and dolphins are sometimes seen off New Polzeath. Hire a boat at Bude and row up the canal, which will seem wonderfully quiet after the hoards on the coast. Walk along the river for a picnic, starting in the middle of Camelford, where there’s a park with swings.