6 The Links

St Michael's Mount is a tidal island in Mount's Bay, near Penzance, linked to Marazion by a causeway of granite setts. At low tide you can walk across; when the tide is in, ferry boats run instead. On the island you'll find a historic village with cobbled streets, a harbour, shops, a café and a restaurant, all beneath the ramparts of the castle.

Tip: Check the causeway times when you book, as they decide whether you walk across or take a boat from the mainland.

The Minack is an open-air theatre at Porthcurno in Cornwall, about four miles from Land's End. It is built above a gully, with a rocky granite outcrop jutting into the sea, and it appears in many lists of the world's most spectacular theatres. Each year it stages its own productions and hosts visiting companies, with a wide range of music and theatre.

Newquay Zoo is a 13-acre zoo and garden site in Trenance Leisure Park, in the middle of Newquay. It is the largest zoo in Cornwall, and its planted grounds have won a Britain in Bloom Gold award. Visitors can see hundreds of species, including lynx, penguins, otters, zebras, sloths and meerkats, in a mix of indoor and outdoor habitats.

Tip: Check the zoo's website for current opening times, ticket offers and parking details before you go, as these can change.

Land's End is a headland and tourist complex at the western end of the A30 on the Penwith peninsula, about eight miles west-south-west of Penzance. It is the most westerly point of mainland England and the most south-westerly point in Great Britain, with the English Channel to the east and the Celtic Sea to the west.

Tip: The actual Land's End headland is about 200 yards north of the main tourist complex, so make sure you walk over to see it.

Levant is a National Trust site on the cliffs of Cornwall's Tin Coast, part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. Its restored 1840 beam engine still runs on steam, and it is the last Cornish winding engine of its kind still in steam.

Tip: Book your tour in advance, as entry is by guided tour only. Parking is free at nearby Geevor Mine (sat nav TR19 7EW).

Penlee House is an art gallery and museum in Penlee Park, Penzance. The gallery is the place to discover the art of West Cornwall, including the Newlyn School and the Lamorna artists. The museum covers local history, from archaeological finds to ceramics, social history and fashion. Temporary exhibitions change regularly.

Tip: If you prefer a quieter visit, the website says quieter times are usually later in the afternoon on weekdays and Saturdays, so check the visit page for current times.

Tate St Ives is an art gallery in the Cornish town of St Ives, looking over Porthmeor Beach. It shows work by artists linked to St Ives and West Cornwall, including Barbara Hepworth, Marlow Moss, Naum Gabo and Patrick Heron. Displays from the Tate collection sit alongside modern and contemporary art from around the world in a changing exhibitions programme.

Tip: The gallery has no car park and St Ives has narrow streets and limited parking, so consider the St Erth Park and Ride and its short train ride into town.

This was Barbara Hepworth's home and workplace in St Ives from 1949 until her death in 1975. Her living room is furnished as she left it, and the workshop is still full of her tools, materials and part-worked pieces. Photographs show the progress of her Festival of Britain commission, Contrapuntal Forms.

Tip: There is no car park, so leave the car behind and use the St Erth Park and Ride or the Trenwith car park shuttle bus. Booking ahead is recommended as tickets are limited.