Frans Liszt played here

The fact that Franz Liszt once performed here, somewhere in or around Budleigh Salterton, is the sort of detail that makes you pause mid-walk and think about the layers of history beneath the Devon coast. We're talking about one of the 19th century's most brilliant pianists - the man who basically invented the symphonic poem - gracing this quiet corner of the South West with his presence.

The trouble is tracking down exactly where. Liszt's visit to Devon isn't emblazoned on tourist boards, and the venue details have rather faded from public memory. What you're essentially doing is following a thread of local history, asking around Budleigh Salterton's tea shops and visitor centres, piecing together where this musical giant might have sat down at the keyboard.

It appeals most to classical music enthusiasts and anyone with a taste for uncovering unexpected cultural moments. You won't find a major concert hall or museum dedicated to the occasion - this is more about the romantic notion of standing where genius once stood, imagining the acoustics of a Victorian drawing room or chapel filled with his playing.

If you're staying at Ladram Bay Holiday Park or one of the other caravan sites nearby, it's worth a gentle potter into Budleigh Salterton itself. The town has that proper seaside charm without the amusement arcades. Allow an afternoon to explore the town and ask locals - they often know these stories better than any guidebook. No admission charges involved; it's more a pilgrimage than a destination.