Charleton St. Mary's Church

The church sits quietly in the Devon countryside a few miles south of Kingsbridge, the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident while exploring the back lanes. Charleton St. Mary's is a proper medieval church - all weathered stone and solid English heritage - with enough character to make it worth a visit if you're camping in the area, though you shouldn't expect grand architecture or lengthy crowds.

What you get is a genuine village church, the kind where locals have worshipped for centuries and the building itself tells that story. The interior has the typical charm of rural Devon churches - old pews, a modest chancel, and that particular quiet that only old churches seem to manage. It's free to visit and takes maybe twenty minutes to have a proper look around, assuming you're not rushing.

Family groups won't get much from this one, to be honest. Kids will be bored within five minutes. But if you're a church enthusiast or simply keen to see how these communities built and maintained their spiritual spaces, it's worth the short drive from Kingsbridge. Best visited on a sunny afternoon when the light comes through decently.

If you're based at any of the excellent nearby parks - Wilton Farm Camping or Start Bay Caravan Club are both highly rated and within touching distance - this makes a reasonable detour on a rambling afternoon. Pair it with walks around the South Devon coast rather than treating it as a standalone destination.