Rockbeare War Memorial

The memorial stands in a small churchyard near Exeter, a simple stone cross that marks something most people drive past without noticing. It commemorates the local men who fell in the First World War - 24 names carved into the base, each one someone's son or husband who didn't come home.

Visiting takes fifteen minutes, maybe twenty if you read every name and think about what it meant. There's no fanfare, no visitor centre, no café. You park nearby, walk into the quiet churchyard, and that's it. That's rather the point.

History buffs will appreciate the craftsmanship of the stone itself and the period it represents - that immediate post-war period when villages across Britain were still finding ways to process their losses. But honestly, this isn't a destination in itself. It's the sort of thing you'd visit if you were already in the area, perhaps walking between Exeter and the surrounding villages.

If you're staying at Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping or Castle Brake Holiday Park - both within four miles - it's worth a small detour on a rainy afternoon when outdoor activities aren't appealing. The churchyard is peaceful and genuinely moving, more so than some of the grander memorials you'll find in larger towns. Come with some quiet reflection in mind, not expectations of entertainment.