Bovey Tracey Swimming Pool

The leisure centre in Bovey Tracey isn't fancy, but it does the job on a rainy afternoon when the moor's turned grey and the kids need burning off. You get a proper 25-metre pool, a shallow end for the little ones, and usually a reasonable temperature - the kind of place locals actually use rather than somewhere that feels like a tourist trap.

It's five minutes from Newton Abbot, so dead convenient if you're based at one of the caravan parks around here. Oakmoor Touring Park sits just 1.6 miles away, which means you could easily pop in for a couple of hours without much faffing about. Swimming pools attached to leisure centres aren't thrilling, but they're practical, and that matters when you've got restless children or you fancy a proper swim without the sea.

The pool works best for families who want a straightforward dip, or swimmers who actually want to do lengths without worrying about currents and cold water. It won't set your holiday on fire - don't expect anything fancy - but it's the kind of functional facility that stops a rainy day from being a washout.

You'll need to check their current opening hours and admission prices when you book your stay, as these can shift seasonally. Allow an hour or two depending on how keen everyone is. Worth factoring in if you're planning a week on Dartmoor and want one day that doesn't involve walking boots.