I’ll never forget the drive down to Carbis Bay last summer – sat nav insisting we take some winding B-road that turned into a single-track nightmare, complete with a flock of sheep blocking the way and me frantically reversing into a hedge while my mate Dave laughed his socks off. “Welcome to Cornwall,” he quipped, as I finally extricated us, heart racing but already buzzing with that holiday anticipation. We were en route to this stunning apartment in an exclusive little development of nine holiday homes, right in the heart of Carbis Bay with its golden sands and those mesmerising azure seas stretching out from every window. Pulling up, the panoramic views hit us like a tonic – waves crashing below, St Ives twinkling in the distance. First impressions? Pure bliss.

We’d planned the usual: beach lounging, pasty scoffing. But Cornwall has a knack for derailing the best-laid plans, especially when you’re the type who loves wandering off the beaten track. First morning, coffee in hand, we decided on a “quick” stroll along the coastal path from Carbis Bay beach. Ten minutes in, we veered off onto a barely-there footpath marked by a faded sign – hidden gem number one: a secluded cove you’d never spot on Google Maps. Tucked beneath rugged cliffs, it was just us, the seals barking offshore, and a handful of locals crabbing off the rocks. No crowds, no chip vans – just the sea’s roar and that salty tang in the air. We spent hours there, skim-reading paperbacks and paddling in rock pools, feeling like we’d gatecrashed paradise.

By afternoon, hunger struck, and instead of heading back for the obvious beach cafés, we got properly lost climbing the paths up towards Porthkidney Sands. Dodging brambles and gorse bushes, we stumbled into this off-the-radar tea garden – a sun-dappled nook run by a cheery couple from a converted railway carriage. Proper cream teas with sconces still warm from the oven, clotted cream thicker than my accent after a pint. “You’re not from round here,” the lady grinned, as we devoured it all overlooking dunes that felt a world away from the tourist hustle. It was one of those moments that makes you reflect: why do we always chase the Instagram spots when these accidental finds – the ones that demand a bit of getting lost – taste so much sweeter?

Next day, same story. Aiming for the easy promenade walk, we took a wrong turn inland and uncovered a wildflower meadow path leading to a forgotten tidal pool near the River Hayle estuary. Crystal clear, fringed with heather, it was our private spa – diving in with whoops of delight, emerging shrivelled but euphoric. Evenings back at the apartment were magic, unwinding on the balcony with those sea views turning fiery at sunset, sharing tales of our meanderings over fish suppers from the local spot in Carbis Bay.

Looking back, that trip taught me something simple: the best holidays aren’t plotted to perfection. They’re about embracing the detours, the sheep-jam starts, and those serendipitous nooks that only reveal themselves when you let Cornwall work its wandering magic. If you’re heading to Carbis Bay, pack comfy shoes and a sense of adventure – you won’t regret it.