RUGGED coastline, clifftops covered in heather, miles of golden beaches and bright blue waters washing over your feet as you walk during sunset – it isn’t too shabby a way to spend a weekend.

Clocking out of work at 5.30pm on a Friday with the car already packed you can be in Cornwall in time for a late dinner – and if you stay at Lambriggan Court, near Perranporth, Gary and Fiona will have a welcome package greeting you with the smoothest Cornish oak-smoked cyder you’ve ever tasted.

I’ve been visiting Cornwall every year for the past 20 years – being one of the families you see stuck in the summer on the motorway with the car packed to the rafters and annoying siblings fighting for space in the back.

Always staying in campsites, the memories you make in Cornwall on your summer holidays will always be cherished – but growing up, it’s now time to enjoy a few of the finer things Cornwall has to offer.

A boom in cottage lettings in the West Country means you can enjoy a holiday but still have your home comforts. At Lemon Cottage at Lambriggan Court, there’s a bathroom bigger than your own house and a bed so comfy you never want to leave.

Well, unless you’re super keen and have a kayaking trip booked for 10am on Saturday morning. If you only have two days to play with there’s no time to waste, and no better place to jam-pack activities than the Cornish coast.

Heading to the south of Cornwall, Tom and Hetty from Koru Kayaking are waiting in a secluded pocket of paradise in Helsford Passage.

Tom and Hetty quit the rat race together and headed to the West Country after realising there was no closer way to connect with the water, or enjoy life, than in a kayak – and no better place to kayak than Cornwall.

Now they spend half the year doing guided tours on the choppy sea waters of the north coast, exploring remote caves at St Agnes, or on the south coast in the contrastingly peaceful Frenchman’s Creek.

Heading out onto the water our guide, bursting with enthusiasm, talks us through the history of the creek and the inspiration and setting for Daphne du Maurier’s novel Frenchman’s Creek, about a love affair between an English lady and a dashing French pirate.

We pass by wooden shacks and forgotten boats with rum barrels still inside. Gliding on the water we make our way along Frenchman’s Creek, looking for wildlife and taking a moment to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the inlet of water.

It’s hard not to lose track of time, and the tide.

As we start losing the tide just before lunch, we only have half a metre of water below us and it’s time to leave the water and Tom and Hetty’s hidden treasure behind.

As surprisingly relaxing as the kayaking tour is, you still work up an appetite and it’s soon time to head back over to the north coast and the best place to have lunch, at a beach shack at Chapel Porth.

Chapel Porth is a great place to visit and sums up Cornwall in one picture perfect scene.

When the tide is out the turquoise waters uncover the golden beaches, standing out against the brown rugged cliffs that line them.

The beach shack has become famous for ‘hedgehog ice cream’ – Cornish ice cream covered in clotted cream and then dipped in crushed almonds. It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

But that’s just dessert. Order a calorific croque monsieur, drizzled in garlic butter and take it down to the beach for lunch. It never disappoints.

After sitting on the sand and enjoying the best open sandwich you’ll ever have, it’ll soon be time to work it off.

The beauty of Chapel Porth means you’re just steps away from the South West Coast Path, and half a mile into the cliff top walk you’ll reach one of Cornwall’s most iconic tin mines from the 19th century, Wheal Coates.

Take time to explore the tin mine before getting back in the car and driving to Watergate Bay for sundowners at sunset.

On the way you’ll pass The Cornish Cyder Farm where the non-drivers can enjoy free tastings and stock up on the scrumptious Cornish Scrumpy and traditional Healey’s classic cyder – it’s conveniently placed opposite Lambriggan Court in Penhallow.

The Beach Hut at Watergate Bay is one of the best beach-side hangouts in Cornwall and has a prime view as the sun sets over the sea.

The pools of water left behind by the tide mirror the golden glows of the sun and the sky turning a pink candy floss colour as you sip on your cocktail.

Once the sun has gone down and the cold dark night sets in, there is no better place to retreat to than the comfort of Lambriggan Court. There are five holiday cottages at the stunning rural retreat, all finished to the highest standards.

The white -washed walls, soft white linen, warm lighting and wooden beams mean you’ll never want to leave the quaint character cottages.

Gary and Fiona provide a warm welcome and delicious chocolate brownies, and you can help yourself to the fresh farm eggs outside every morning from the chickens kept on site.

On Sunday, spend the morning relaxing at Lambriggan Court and, if you can tear yourself away, visit The Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey.

Wander around the mysterious gardens and 200 acres of Victorian productive gardens and pleasure grounds. Get lost in the sub-tropical jungle as you walk through bamboo tunnels and across a rope bridge.

Perhaps the prettiest part is the quieter section of the estate, and the woodland down by the water, lined with beautiful bluebells.

No trip to Cornwall is ever complete without tasting the best of the local cuisine – and a hearty pasty.

After the Lost Gardens, pop in to Padstow on your way home and pick up a Cornish pasty to enjoy on the harbour before walking it off with one last coastal walk.

Factfile

Stay at the luxurious Lambriggan Court, with cottages from £350 for a 7-night visit lambriggancourt.com

Eat at Chapel Porth Beach Cafe and The Beach Hut, Watergate Bay, visit watergatebay.co.uk and drink Healey’s cyder at thecornishcyderfarm.co.uk

Be active with Koru Kayaking, tours cost £40 per person, to book visit korukayaking.co.uk and visit The Lost Gardens of Heligan, heligan.com

For more information about what’s on in Cornwall, visit cornwall365.org.uk