Hoe Park

The Hoe stretches out across Plymouth's waterfront like a proper invitation to stop rushing around. It's not one of those manicured, roped-off nature reserves - this is an open grassland that rolls down to the water with the Citadel standing solid on one side and the sea taking up most of the view.

You come here to walk, mainly. There's a coastal path that's easy enough for families, though the wind can catch you off-guard when you round the corner towards the breakwater. The grass is the thing - it's wild in patches, proper managed in others, and on a decent day the light off the water makes it worth lingering longer than you planned.

History types will appreciate the Citadel and the Drake connection, though that's more Plymouth legend than hard fact. Kids will get at least an hour out of it running about, spotting boats, maybe watching the occasional cormorant dive. Beyond that depends on the weather and how much patience you've got for "are we done yet?"

It's free, naturally, and you can turn up whenever you fancy. Works well as a break if you're staying at Dartmoor Domes - a few miles inland and you'll want that open-sky contrast. Best visited when it's not lashing with rain, which in Devon is something to plan for. The Hoe is the sort of place that justifies a morning, not a full day, unless you're genuinely into sitting on grass and watching the horizon.