Jubilee Gardens

The gardens sit on the edge of Ilfracombe, a proper working nature reserve rather than the manicured sort you might expect. What you're actually walking through is someone's serious attempt at habitat creation - native trees, wildflower meadows, the lot. It's the kind of place where you spot things rather than have them pointed out to you, which means kids old enough to appreciate wildlife will get more from it than toddlers after ten minutes.

There's a network of paths threading through different zones, so you can do a quick loop or spend a couple of hours if you're into birds and plants. The whole thing feels genuinely local, not touristy - exactly the sort of place people from Ilfracombe pop into without making a day of it. Access looks to be free, though you should check the situation nearer the time for any seasonal closures.

If you're staying at Hele Valley Holiday Park - just up the road - it's worth combining with a wander into Ilfracombe proper. The gardens work as a buffer between coastal bustle and proper countryside, which is their real strength. Don't arrive expecting botanical drama. Arrive expecting to see what actually grows when you stop mowing everything and let nature get on with it. For families based at any of the caravan parks within three miles, it's a handy morning before the beach gets packed, not a destination in itself.