Riddapit Mill

Riddapit Mill sits quietly beside the river near Tavistock, a ruined water mill that rewards the curious more than the casual passer-by. The site itself is modest - stone foundations and bits of the old millrace still visible if you know where to look. What makes it worth seeking out is the glimpse it gives into medieval industrial life in Devon, when mills like this ground grain for entire communities.

You'll need a decent pair of boots and patience to find it properly; the location isn't signposted with great enthusiasm. Once there, it's the kind of place where you start imagining the wheel turning, water channelled carefully through the leat system. Quite absorbing if you're into industrial archaeology or local history. Kids under ten will probably get restless within twenty minutes unless they're the type who like exploring rough ground and working out how old things actually functioned.

The walk there and back from Tavistock is pleasant enough, following riverside paths. It's a low-key addition to a longer day exploring the Dart Valley rather than a destination in itself. If you're staying at Langstone Manor Holiday Park nearby, it's close enough for a morning wander before moving on to bigger attractions. Allow an hour total including the walk. There's no admission charge that I'm aware of - it's open access - but do respect that it's a protected archaeological site. Spring and early summer are nicest, when the undergrowth hasn't completely swallowed the stones.