Roman Military Supply Base

The Romans left their fingerprints all over Devon, and this supply base on the outskirts of Exeter is where you can actually see the logistics of an empire laid bare. It's not a grand amphitheatre or a fortress wall - it's something quieter but arguably more interesting: the unglamorous workhorse of military life. You're walking through what was once a depot where supplies, weapons, and provisions moved through for the legions stationed across the south west.

Archaeology nerds will find this genuinely absorbing. The site reveals trenches, storage pits, and evidence of the infrastructure that kept Roman soldiers fed and armed. Casual visitors might spend an hour here if the weather's decent, though it won't hold the attention of restless kids for long - there's no dramatic ruins to clamber over, just earth and interpretation boards. The real appeal is in understanding how the military machine actually functioned, not the myth of it.

It works well as part of a wider Exeter itinerary rather than a standalone trip. If you're staying at Devon Heaven Hideaways or Castle Brake Holiday Park - both within easy reach - you can combine this with the city's Roman Walls and museum for a proper picture of what occupied Britain looked like. Go on a quiet weekday morning if you can. The site feels less crowded and you'll have space to think about what happened here two thousand years ago.