Glenside

The cliffs at Glenside rise up sudden and rust-red from the pebble beach, a proper geological show-off that stops you dead. You're looking at Permian sandstone and conglomerate - the sort of layered, time-worn face that makes you understand why Devon's coastline matters to anyone who actually cares about rocks and deep time. It's not far from Budleigh Salterton, easy enough to reach if you're staying at one of the holiday parks dotted around the area like Ladram Bay or Oakdown.

The walk down to the beach itself is straightforward, and once you're there, the cliffs dominate everything. Geologists come here to read the stone like text; families with younger kids find it manageable enough, though the pebbles can be rough underfoot. The real appeal is the raw geology - no gift shop, no interpretation board, just the evidence laid bare. It's the sort of place you spend thirty minutes studying the strata, then head back up feeling like you've actually learned something.

Timing-wise, allow an hour including the walk down and back. The light's best in late afternoon when the sandstone glows, and low tide opens up more beach. Spring and early autumn avoid the worst of the summer crowds from nearby caravan parks. If you're doing a coastal circuit around Budleigh Salterton - and you should be - Glenside makes a worthwhile stop. Not dramatic in the way some Devon cliffs are, but genuine and unvarnished.