Hopes Nose

The headland juts out into the sea with a proper dramatic suddenness, especially when you round the bend from Torquay side. Hopes Nose is a nature reserve that feels more like a secret than a proper tourist attraction - which is exactly why it works. You get limestone cliffs, gorse scrub, and on a clear day, views that stretch across Torbay to Berry Head. The walking here is straightforward enough: there's a coastal path that loops around the promontory, taking maybe an hour if you dawdle and stop to actually look at things rather than just march through.

This is a walker's spot, genuinely. The clifftops reward you with views of Wormetor Rock and the bay below, and if you're into birds and plants you'll spot razorbills and guillemots wheeling about in spring and summer. It's the kind of place where you can see why the Victorians got so excited about seaside rambles. Nothing fancy - no visitor centre, no café, no gift shop. Just land, sea, and some proper exertion if you've got the legs for it.

Go when the weather's decent; there's not much shelter up there and a stiff wind can make it properly miserable. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking photos and actually noticing things. If you're staying at South Bay Holiday Park down the coast, it's worth the drive over - breaks up a beach-and-ice-cream holiday with something that feels a bit more substantial.