Moat Garden

The moat itself is the main draw here - a proper medieval water feature that's been sitting in this corner of Devon for centuries. You're looking at sunken gardens laid out around the old defensive ditch, all very orderly and very English. It's the sort of place where you can actually picture how things used to be defended, even if the threat level these days is limited to overenthusiastic ducks.

For garden enthusiasts and anyone with a passing interest in medieval life, it's worth an hour or so. Families won't be bored - kids tend to find water mesmerising regardless of its age - though there's nothing thrilling enough to keep teenagers entertained for long. History buffs will appreciate the genuine bones of the place, the way the banks still hold their shape.

It's free to access and sits just outside Seaton, making it a sensible stop if you're based at Beer Head Holiday Park (only 0.4 miles away, very handy) or Oakdown further up the road. Neither park is far, so you could easily combine this with a walk into town or along the coast. The gardens are best in spring and early summer when there's actually colour, though the moat itself looks rather good whatever the season.

Allow twenty minutes minimum, an hour if you're the type to sit and sketch or photograph. Decent spot for a quiet afternoon.