Hartland Devon Heritage Coast

The cliffs here are something else. Hartland's coastline in North Devon drops sheer into the Atlantic, with rock formations that look like they've been carved by angry gods rather than patient erosion. Walk along the South West Coast Path and you'll understand why this stretch gets called the Heritage Coast - it's that good.

The landscape demands proper footwear and time. The villages dotted inland - Hartland itself, Stoke, Welcombe - sit tucked back from the drama, their thatched cottages and flint-built farmhouses speaking to centuries of people choosing the safer ground. This isn't a theme park version of coastal Devon. It's raw.

What makes it tick is the walking. The cliffs near Hartland Point offer views that make the drive from Bideford worthwhile, and the path sections between Welcombe Mouth and Morwenstow are genuinely special - far fewer people than the honeypot spots near Exmouth. Allow a full afternoon minimum if you want to do it justice; three hours gets you a taste, but you'll want longer.

Families with older kids will get on with it, but toddlers are a slog - the terrain is uneven and there are proper drops. History types will appreciate the isolation and what it reveals about settlement patterns, while serious walkers treat this as essential Coast Path territory.

Stay at Roeys Retreat Campsite or Coastal Cabins Glamping nearby - both are proper outfits with good reviews - and you've got easy access to both the clifftop walks and the quieter inland villages. It's free to explore, naturally. Go when the weather's set fair; the cliffs look dramatic in rain, but they're miserable to walk.