RSPB Labrador Bay

Dramatic red cliffs tumble into turquoise waters at this wild stretch of Devon's coast, where the RSPB has carved out one of its most spectacular coastal reserves. The views alone are worth the trip - on a clear day you can see right across to Berry Head and beyond. But it's the wildlife that steals the show. Seabirds wheel overhead while rock pooling at low tide reveals a proper menagerie of crabs, anemones and darting fish. The cliff-top path offers excellent walking, though it can get a bit blustery. Families with young kids should stick to the easier sections near the car park - the clifftop drops are serious business. Bird watchers will have a field day here, especially during migration periods when you might spot anything from peregrine falcons to rare seabirds blown in from distant waters. The reserve feels properly wild compared to some of the more manicured RSPB sites. Spring brings wildflowers carpeting the grassland, while autumn migration can be extraordinary. Allow at least two hours to do it justice, though you could easily spend half a day exploring every nook. It's a cracking addition to a holiday at nearby Torquay Holiday Park or any of the other coastal sites around the bay. Just bring layers - the wind can whip across these headlands even on warm days.