Glenorchy United Reformed Church

Small rural churches often hold the most surprises, and this little Methodist chapel sits quietly in the Devon countryside between Exmouth and Dawlish. Built in the classic Nonconformist style with red brick and simple Gothic windows, Glenorchy United Reformed Church represents the strong tradition of Methodism that took root across Devon's villages in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The church still holds regular services, though you'd need to check locally for times if you fancy popping in during worship. Outside service times, it's worth a quick look from the road - the stonework around the entrance is particularly well preserved, and the small graveyard tells stories of local families spanning generations.

This isn't a destination in itself, more a peaceful spot you might stumble across while exploring the lanes around Exmouth. Families staying at the nearby holiday parks like Devon Cliffs or Dawlish Sands could easily cycle past during a countryside ramble. The church sits well off the main tourist trail, so it's properly quiet - the sort of place where you can actually hear birdsong.

Anyone with an interest in Methodist history or Victorian chapel architecture will appreciate the building's honest, unfussy design. It's a two-minute stop at most, but sometimes these unassuming village churches capture something essential about rural Devon that the grander attractions miss entirely.