Ring and Baily Castle (remains)

The earthworks of Ring and Bailey Castle sit on a rise just outside Crediton, and honestly, they're more interesting to walk around than you'd expect from a few bumps in the ground. What you're looking at are the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress - basically a wooden keep built on an artificial mound with a defended outer courtyard. The site itself is unfenced and free to access, which means you can poke about at your own pace without paying someone to tell you what you already know.

The walk up is gentle enough, though the ground can get boggy depending on the season. Once you're at the top, the views across Devon aren't spectacular, but they're pleasant enough - the sort of place you'll spend twenty minutes taking photos and wondering about the people who actually lived here around 900 years ago. History types will get more out of it than casual walkers, to be fair. Kids might enjoy clambering up the mound, though there's not much to actually do once they're up there.

Give it forty minutes to an hour, including the walk. It works well as a stop-off if you're already in the Crediton area - perhaps based at Yeatheridge Farm Caravan Park nearby - but it's not worth a dedicated trip unless you're into Norman archaeology. The site has no facilities, so bring water. Best visited when the ground's dry, unless you fancy muddy boots back at your van.