Clennon Lakes

Three lakes sprawled across Devon countryside just outside Paignton, and they're genuinely worth a detour if you're after something quieter than the seafront madness. Clennon Lakes aren't dramatic or particularly famous - that's rather the point. You get a decent walk around the water, patches of woodland, and the occasional bird watcher bent over a telescope, which sets the tone nicely.

It's the sort of place families with younger kids will enjoy for an hour or so - there's room to run about, the path is manageable, and you might spot waterfowl without needing to trek miles. Older walkers and anyone keen on a bit of birdwatching will find it genuinely peaceful, particularly on a weekday morning when you've got the place largely to yourself. The lakes feel like proper local territory rather than a tourist tick-box.

The whole circuit takes perhaps 45 minutes to an hour depending on pace and whether you stop to watch the water. There's no charge to visit, and it costs nothing to park up and wander. On a hot day the tree cover is genuinely valuable - you're not baking in open sun the whole time.

If you're staying at South Bay Holiday Park in Paignton, this is close enough to make a morning outing without faffing about with car journeys. It breaks up a seaside holiday nicely, gives you some greenery, and honestly beats another lap of the seafront arcades. Don't expect postcard views - expect honest Devon countryside and a quiet moment.