Manor House (remains of)

The ruins sprawl across the Devon countryside just outside Bridport, and there's something genuinely affecting about picking through what's left of a manor house that once mattered. Stone foundations jut from the grass, walls lean at unlikely angles, and if you're lucky the light catches the old brickwork in a way that makes you squint and try to imagine the rooms that used to be there.

Historians and architecture buffs will want to spend time here - there's enough remaining to get a sense of the building's footprint and scale. It's not a dramatic ruin like a castle, so don't expect sweeping arches or Instagram moments. What you get instead is quiet. The sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which feels rare these days.

Walkers staying at Seadown or Newlands Holiday Parks will find this worth a detour if they're already exploring the Bridport area - perhaps combine it with a village walk rather than making a special journey. Twenty minutes of poking about is realistic unless you're really into reading old stones. No facilities that I can find, so bring water. It's free to access, though there's a particular magic to off-season visits when you might have the place entirely to yourself.

Families with younger kids might find it underwhelming after five minutes unless they're into treasure-hunt style exploring. Older children interested in local history will get more from it.