Rock House

You'll find Rock House tucked into the cliffs just outside Budleigh Salterton, a genuine rarity from the Regency era. The house is literally carved into the red sandstone - part dwelling, part geological oddity - and it's the sort of place that makes you stop and stare when you first glimpse it from the coastal path.

It dates back to around 1820, built by a local eccentric who decided conventional architecture was for other people. The rooms are small and intimate, following the contours of the rock rather than fighting them. You get a proper sense of what domestic life looked like two centuries ago, minus the comfort.

This isn't somewhere families with young children will linger long. Kids might enjoy spotting it from the path, but there's limited interior space and the appeal is more about the oddness of the thing than interactive activities. Walkers doing the coastal stretch between Budleigh Salterton and Sidmouth will find it worth a detour - the location is genuinely memorable.

Access details are hazy, so ring ahead or check with Budleigh Salterton's visitor information before making the trip. The site sits within walking distance of Ladram Bay Holiday Park and Oakdown, making it an easy add-on if you're staying at either. Allow 20 minutes if you're just having a look; longer if you're genuinely interested in Regency-era domestic quirkiness. The clifftop setting alone justifies the wander.