Princess Avenue Play Park

Princess Avenue Play Park sits right on the edge of Ilfracombe, a proper little nature reserve that punches above its weight for a seaside town. It's the sort of place where you can wander through woodland paths without the crowds you'd get at bigger attractions, spotting birds and the odd flash of movement in the undergrowth. The park has decent walking trails of varying lengths - nothing that'll knacker you out, but enough to feel like you've actually moved about.

Families with younger kids will get the most from it. Older teenagers might find it a bit tame after twenty minutes, but primary school age children tend to enjoy the exploration aspect. Bring a nature spotting book and make an event of it. The trails are relatively well-maintained, so it's not a scramble through nettles and brambles.

Since you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Hele Valley or Watermouth Valley are virtually on your doorstep, just under 3 miles away - this works as a morning activity before heading down to Ilfracombe's seafront proper. It's free to access and takes about an hour if you potter rather than power-walk. Spring and early summer are when you'll see the most wildlife, though autumn has its own appeal with the colours changing.

Worth slotting into a day if you're based locally rather than making a special trip, but it's exactly the sort of gentle diversion that breaks up a week at the holiday parks without requiring tickets or planning ahead.