Church of St John the Baptist, Instow

The squat tower of St John the Baptist sits right on Instow's high street, impossible to miss as you wander through this quiet Devon village. It's a 15th-century church, all grey stone and practical Anglican build - no fussy decoration, just proper medieval craftsmanship. Inside, there's enough to spend twenty minutes poking about: carved pew ends, a handful of decent monuments, and the usual ecclesiastical bits that speak to centuries of village life. The light through the windows is lovely, especially mid-afternoon. The real draw, though, is location. Instow itself perches above the Torridge estuary, and the church sits right in the thick of it - walk round the back and you've got views over the water toward Bideford. For architecture enthusiasts this is worth an hour's potter about, combined with a stroll through the village and down to the foreshore. Families with young kids might find it a bit of a quick stop rather than a destination. The church appears to be open during daylight hours, though it's worth checking locally before making the trip. Getting here from any of the nearby parks - Braddicks or Broad Park are your closest options - takes less than ten minutes by car. Combine it with a walk along the estuary path or a pint at the local pub, and you've got yourself a proper afternoon. It's the sort of place that rewards turning up without grand expectations.