Berry Castle

The earthworks at Berry Castle, just outside Bideford, are a proper Iron Age hillfort - the kind of place where you can actually feel the weight of 2,000 years pressing down on the landscape. What you're looking at is a series of defensive ditches and ramparts that once enclosed a settlement, though there's not much above ground to get excited about unless you're genuinely into archaeology. It's more about walking the perimeter and imagining what life was like when this was frontier territory.

The site itself is free and accessible year-round, though there's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're taking your time and reading up on the history beforehand. Families with younger kids might find it a bit underwhelming - there's no play element here, just earth and views. But if you've got teenagers interested in history or anyone who enjoys a decent countryside walk with some substance to it, this delivers.

It slots nicely into a broader North Devon holiday. Bideford itself is worth a morning, and you're well-positioned for the coast. If you're staying at Owl Valley Glamping or Broad Park Camping, both within five miles, this is an easy half-day excursion that breaks up the beach routine without demanding too much. Weather-dependent, mind - wet weather turns the paths into proper mud traps. Go in autumn or spring for the clearest views and fewer midges.