Saltram House

The drive up to Saltram House catches you off guard - suddenly you're pulling through proper wrought-iron gates and there's this grand 18th-century mansion just sitting there on the Devon landscape like it owns the place. And honestly, it rather does. The National Trust property is massive, all cream-coloured stone and sash windows, with enough rooms inside to lose yourself for a good three hours if you're the type who reads every placard.

What makes it actually worth the trip rather than just another stately home is the setting. The gardens roll down to the River Plym, there's woodland to potter through, and on a decent day the whole thing feels less stuffy than you'd expect. Inside, the collection is genuinely impressive - Robert Adam interiors, decent paintings, the kind of Georgian furniture that costs more than most houses. The kitchens are particularly good for kids, all huge and cluttered with period equipment.

Plymouth's just a few miles south if you're making a day of it. For families staying at Dartmoor Domes or Hidden Hill Devon, Saltram works well as a morning jaunt before heading back to the glamping sites. Allow three to four hours minimum. It's the sort of place that rewards actually engaging with it rather than rushing through. Worth checking their website for seasonal opening hours and entry fees before you go - these details do change - but the house itself is the real draw here, not any particular collection or exhibition.