All Saints Chapel, Instow

Walk down to the estuary at Instow and you'll stumble on All Saints Chapel, a modest white-washed church that sits quietly overlooking the Torridge and Taw rivers. It's not a grand affair - nothing like the cathedral showstoppers you might expect in Devon - but that's rather the point. The chapel is properly intimate, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think, and the location alone makes it worth the detour from Bideford.

What strikes you first is how the building seems to belong to the landscape rather than dominate it. The interior is simple but genuine, with views across the water that feel almost meditative. If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Braddicks is closest at just over 3 miles - this works as a gentle riverside walk rather than a tick-box tourist moment. Budget 20 minutes tops to look around, unless you're the sort who lingers on churchyard benches watching the tidal movements.

It's free to access and there's no faffing about with opening hours - the doors are typically open during daylight. Best visited as part of a longer walk along the North Devon coast rather than as a standalone attraction. History buffs will appreciate the age of it; families with restless kids might find it a bit too quiet. The real appeal is combining it with exploring Instow's beach and the wider Torridge estuary, which makes for proper coastal walking country.