Myrtlebury North Iron Age Enclosure

You'll find this Iron Age settlement perched on high ground above Lynton, and the walk up alone justifies the trip. Myrtlebury North is essentially a sprawl of ancient earthworks - ditches, ramparts, the lot - covering about eight acres of hillside. It's the real deal: properly defensive positioning, multiple lines of fortification. You can make out the layout clearly if you know what you're looking at, though there's no visitor centre or interpretation boards to spell it out.

Historygeeks and serious walkers get the most from this one. If your kids are under eight, they'll likely get restless after twenty minutes of "look at that ditch". Teenagers with an interest in archaeology, though, might surprise you - there's something genuinely compelling about standing where Iron Age people actually lived and prepared for trouble.

Allow a solid hour to walk the perimeter and poke around. The views across the Bristol Channel are tremendous, especially on clear days. It's free and accessible year-round, but the ground gets boggy in winter, so good boots are essential.

From Lynton itself it's a straightforward walk - about ninety minutes there and back from the town centre. If you're basing yourself at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat, you're perfectly placed to squeeze this in alongside the better-known Exmoor attractions. It's not flashy, but it's proper archaeology on your doorstep, and the landscape tells its own story.