Botallack Mine

Botallack sits on Cornwall's Tin Coast near St Just, where the 19th-century Crowns engine houses cling to the foot of the cliffs, part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site and the filming location for Wheal Leisure in the BBC's Poldark. Ruins spread across the clifftop, from chimney stacks to the arsenic labyrinth, while the Count House, a 19th-century mine office and 1960s folk club, now holds visitor information and a cafe. The South West Coast Path runs past the door, with a one-mile mining walk and a coastal loop by Kenidjack. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Reviewers single out the sea views, the hot chocolate and locally made cakes, and getting up close to the ruins. Tips from visitors: the path down to the Crowns is steep with a climb back; keep to the footpaths, as mineshafts and unguarded drops remain; and parking is pay and display, free for members.