Bampton Castle

There's not much left of Bampton Castle, to be honest - just earthworks and some crumbling stone foundations scattered across a field near Tiverton. But that's rather the point. What you're looking at are the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress that once commanded the Exe Valley, built sometime after 1066 and abandoned centuries ago. The site itself is free to wander, though there's no visitor centre or interpretation boards, so you'll need a bit of imagination to picture the castle in its heyday.

It's a proper spot for walkers or anyone with a genuine interest in medieval military architecture - not a destination for those expecting turrets and tour guides. You can pick out the motte, the bailey ditch, and bits of stonework if you know what you're looking for. Twenty minutes is enough to see what there is; an hour if you're the type who likes to linger and contemplate.

The real appeal is combining it with a walk around the Exe Valley or using it as a waypoint on a longer ramble through Devon's countryside. Tiverton itself is just a couple of miles south, so it slots neatly into a day exploring the area. If you're staying at Nirvana Glamping or Waterrow Touring Park, both within easy driving distance, this makes a low-key, no-fuss addition to your holiday - the sort of thing that takes an afternoon and costs absolutely nothing.