Mardon (Ruined Farmhouse)

You'll find Mardon tucked away on the Devon moorland near Newton Abbot - a stubborn stone ruin that's been crumbling gracefully for centuries. It's what's left of a farmhouse, really. Walls still standing in places, enough to give you a proper sense of what life looked like out here when sheep farming was the only game in town.

The appeal is subtle rather than showy. There's no visitor centre, no interpretation boards spelling everything out. You turn up, you walk around it, you imagine. The setting matters more than the building itself - high moorland with proper views across Devon's open country. On a clear day you can see why someone built here, despite the wind. On a grey one, you understand why they eventually left.

Walkers love this spot because it sits naturally along decent moorland rambles near Newton Abbot. You won't spend hours here - twenty minutes is realistic - but combined with a longer hike across the moors it slots in nicely. History enthusiasts get something real rather than reconstructed; you're looking at actual medieval or post-medieval building stone, not a theme-park version.

Admission appears to be free and there's no formal opening hours since it's just a ruin. Best visited on foot rather than driven to, which is probably why it hasn't been over-developed. If you're staying at Oakmoor Touring Park nearby, this makes a decent morning walk. Not essential, but honest.