With Cornwall being tucked away in the south-west, you might not necessarily want to drive all the way down here – instead you can pick up your car in Truro, Newquay or at Newquay Airport and start exploring this breathtaking part of Britain. It truly is a great place to drive, with the option to take the quiet, snaking side roads in search of the route less travelled.

Roads are obviously busier in the summer due to the influx of visitors, so be aware that you may run into congestion in popular holiday areas. One of the main routes into Cornwall is the A30, which enters the county near Launceston and heads south-west all the way to the tip of the peninsula at Land’s End, having gone past Redruth and Penzance.

Alternatively, you might want to negotiate the rugged and beautiful northern coast, following the A39 as it goes past Bude, Port Isaac and Padstow before turning inland and down toward the south coast for Truro and Penryn. If you want to stay in the north, leave the A39 just past St. Columb Major and take the A392 and then the A3075 before it merges with the A30.

There’s also a fine southern route to explore. The A38 crosses the River Tamar at Saltash and veers west. Follow it to Dobwalls and then take the A390 south-west for the coast near Polperro where you’ll find Fowey, St. Austell, Tresillian and Truro.

These are the main routes around Cornwall – but you’ll be hard-pressed to resist the lure of those little side-roads which promise adventure and miles of unspoiled coast waiting just for you to discover them.

Way out west, Cornwall beckons. A bounteous county with verdant forests and parks, edged to the south, north and west with coastline that varies from the tranquil to the spectacular. Come to sunbathe, come to eat, come to surf – most of all, come to Cornwall.

Beaches galore

Cornwall boasts some of the best beaches in Britain and a hire car puts them within easy reach. There are rocky coves and sandy stretches, meaning you can find just the right beach for you – whether you’re looking to stretch out in the sun, head into the surf or explore rock pools with the kids.

Widemouth Bay has nearly two miles of beach, with great cafés nearby, and you’re only a short drive from Bude too. There you’ll find a charming Cornish town, alongside the soft sand of the Summerleaze and Crooklets beaches, or the wilder, more rugged Millook. Further along the coast is Mawgan Porth, a family-friendly beach that’s also markedly quieter than nearby Newquay.

The north coast offers long stretches of sand such as Godrevy and Perranporth, while the curving bay at Porthmeor makes this most westerly of the St. Ives beaches a popular spot. Nearby Carbis Bay is a great option for families, while Falmouth boasts Gyllyngvase Beach with its gently sloping white sand and the popular cove of Swanpool Beach.

Always swim between the red and yellow flags – which show the area being monitored by lifeguards – and beware of dangerous rip currents.

Ports and Poldark

The success of the TV show Poldark has given Cornwall tourism a further boost with fans flocking to the county to scout out the locations they’ve seen on screen. The tin mines the show (and novels) focused on are long-gone, but the moors, ports and coves are all still here. Close to St. Austell you’ll find Charlestown Harbour, home to many of the scenes, and there’s a great Shipwreck Heritage Centre to spend time in.

Further to the south-west is Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula with its white sand and maze of rocks, caves and coves. It’s a stunning site of unusual geological formations that also breed their own flora and fauna.

Beyond the pasty

While the Cornish pasty is famous – and you’ll many places claiming to offer the best, tastiest and most authentic – there are plenty of other local specialties you should try while in Cornwall. Those with a sweet tooth will love the Cornish fairings, a moreish buttery biscuit, while those hankering after seafood can tuck into some of the country’s finest lobster and crab, best enjoyed near the spray of the sea.

There are great restaurants galore, from outposts of chef Rick Stein’s Padstow-based empire to seaside shacks serving up the sea’s freshest bounty. The big hitter at the moment is Restaurant Nathan Outlaw at Port Isaac.

The past and the future

With some of Cornwall’s old industries having now disappeared, there’s a budding heritage trail that covers the past – whether it’s mining or piracy. Geevor Tin Mine, for example, is a must for a true understanding of the claustrophobic life of a miner – you’ll venture underground to see the seams they worked. The Royal Cornwall Museum at Truro also offers an invaluable look back into the past, capturing Cornish life and culture with exhibitions and collections.

But the future beckons too, so wander around the gardens and space-age domes of the Eden Project at Bodelva. You’ll find a huge indoor rainforest, rare plants and plenty of family-friendly events and activities.

There’s modern art to be found in Cornwall too, with the newly-expanded Tate St. Ives focusing on some of finest works of the 20th and 21st centuries. Based at Porthmeor Beach, the stunning space houses provocative art, photography and sculpture, as well as always intriguing programmes, lectures and art tours.

Car hire in Cornwall is essential if you want to cram in as much of Cornish life as possible. You’ll soon find out why people come back here year after year, whether it’s to a favourite spot or to delve into a new corner of this cracking county.