National Trust - Saltram

The moment you turn down the tree-lined drive at Saltram, you're stepping into proper 18th-century Devon life - and the house absolutely delivers. This National Trust property near Plymouth is a sprawling Georgian mansion with everything still in place: the ornate plasterwork, the original furniture, the kitchens where real food was actually cooked. You wander through rooms that feel lived-in rather than sterile, which makes a refreshing change from some stately homes.

The grounds are the real draw though. Eighteen acres of parkland roll down towards the Tavy estuary, with woodland walks that take about an hour if you're not rushing. There's a proper Victorian garden too, which mothers with pram-pushers seem to appreciate, and the lawn in front of the house is excellent for letting kids burn energy between rooms. History types will get a real kick out of the Robert Adam interiors and the fact that the family actually collected things they liked rather than arranging everything for Victorian effect.

Allow three to four hours minimum if you want to see the house and do a decent walk. The tea room serves solid cake and decent coffee - better than average National Trust fare. It works brilliantly as part of a broader Dartmoor holiday, especially if you're staying at Dartmoor Domes or Hidden Hill's glamping setups nearby. Close enough to Plymouth for a half-day visit, far enough out to feel like genuine countryside escape. Worth the entry fee, genuinely.