Bratton Fleming Baptist Church

The Baptist chapel sits on a quiet lane between Bratton Fleming and Ilfracombe, a simple stone building that punches above its weight for anyone interested in 19th-century nonconformist architecture. It's properly charming - white-painted wooden pews, original fixtures, and that particular smell of old chapels that you either love or find slightly musty. Worth a 20-minute detour if you're driving between Ilfracombe and the inland villages.

You won't spend hours here. The interior is intimate rather than grand, which is rather the point. This was built for local working people, not cathedral tourists, and that honesty is its appeal. History enthusiasts and architecture buffs will appreciate the period detail; casual visitors might find it a bit slight unless the door happens to be open and you can step inside.

The real draw is context. Bratton Fleming itself is a proper rural Devon village, and this chapel tells you something about how Nonconformists carved out their own spaces in the Southwest during the 1800s. If you're staying at HARTA Retreat or Longlands nearby - both excellent glamping spots within five miles - you could easily tack this onto a morning's exploration of the quieter villages before heading to Ilfracombe's beaches and seafront bustle.

Check locally before visiting; opening depends on whether someone's around to unlock it. As always with small historic chapels, ring ahead rather than turning up hoping.