Burials

The burial mounds scattered across the Devon countryside near Exeter are genuinely eerie - standing among them, you feel the weight of centuries pressing down. These Bronze Age and Iron Age remains offer a tangible connection to people who walked this land thousands of years ago, which beats any museum display hands down.

What you're actually looking at are earthen mounds, some barely noticeable ridges in a field, others more pronounced humps rising from the turf. A few have been excavated over the years, revealing cremated remains and pottery fragments that archaeologists have painstakingly dated. It's not flashy - there's no visitor centre or interpretation boards at most sites - but that's rather the point. You're standing in a field looking at the genuine article, not a reconstructed theme-park version.

History enthusiasts will find this genuinely rewarding, particularly if you've got an interest in prehistoric Britain. Families with older kids might enjoy the detective work of spotting the mounds, though younger children could struggle with the abstract nature of it all - there's nothing moving or colourful to hold their attention. Walkers should make this part of a wider route across the Devon countryside; a single mound won't keep you occupied for long.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, though many burial sites sit on private land, so always ask permission first. The nearest proper base is Exeter, but Castle Brake Holiday Park and Devon Heaven Hideaways both put you within striking distance. Best visited in late summer when the grass is shorter and the sites easier to spot.