Chesil cliff house

The old lifeboat station at Chesil sits right on the beach near Braunton, a sturdy stone building that's weathered the Devon coast for generations. It's not a grand attraction - there's no cafe, no gift shop, no interactive displays - but that's rather the point. You get a genuine sense of what it took to run rescue operations from this exposed stretch of shoreline, watching waves that would make most people think twice about launching a boat.

Walkers and history enthusiasts will find it worthwhile as part of a coastal ramble. The building itself is the draw - weathered, functional, honest. Kids might enjoy spotting it as a landmark while exploring the beach, though they won't be occupied for long once they've had a look. Allow fifteen minutes if you're passing through, longer if you're making a proper coastal walk of it.

It works well as a stop on a wider North Devon beach crawl. If you're camping at Golden Sands or one of the Woolacombe parks - both just a few miles south - it's an easy addition to your itinerary. The nearby towns of Braunton and Croyde have more substantial attractions if you need backup plans, but the cliff house itself rewards those who appreciate working buildings over polished tourist offerings. Go when the light's good and the tide's right for a beach walk. You'll understand why they needed a lifeboat station here just by standing on the shingle.