Holwell Castle Motte and Bailey

The earthworks are what catch your eye first - a substantial mound rising from the Devon countryside between Ilfracombe and Parracombe, with a ditch running round it like a moat. This is a Norman motte and bailey castle, built sometime after 1066, though precious little remains of the structures that once crowned it. You're looking at archaeology rather than architecture, which means it rewards a bit of imagination.

What you actually do here is walk around the mound, peer at the ditches, and try to picture what life was like when a wooden palisade ran along the top and a lord held court in a keep long since rotted away. It's not demanding - twenty minutes covers it comfortably - and it works brilliantly as a break during a longer walk through the area. The surrounding landscape is proper Devon moorland, which counts for something on its own.

History enthusiasts will find it worthwhile, though families with young children might find it a bit underwhelming after the initial scramble up the mound. There's no visitor facility, no interpretation board to speak of, so you need to bring a bit of knowledge with you or accept you're mostly guessing.

If you're staying at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat or Newberry Valley, both within easy driving distance, this makes a decent half-hour diversion on the way to bigger attractions. Free to visit, accessible year-round. Don't expect crowds.