Sandford (St. Swithin) Church

The church sits quietly on the edge of Sandford village, about six miles south of Exeter - the sort of place you'd drive past without noticing unless someone pointed it out. St. Swithin's is genuinely medieval, with a tower that's been keeping watch over the Devon countryside for centuries. Inside, it's all cool stone and that particular smell churches have - part damp, part old wood polish.

What strikes you most is how little fuss it makes about itself. No gift shop, no interpretive panels explaining every arch. Just a working parish church where people still come to pray on Sundays. The windows are decent - some proper stained glass, though nothing that'll make you gasp - and the carved details reward a proper look if you're into that sort of thing.

History types will get a kick out of it. This is the real deal: a church that's actually been used continuously rather than preserved in amber. It's worth half an hour of your time, maybe forty-five minutes if you're meticulous about reading the memorials.

If you're staying at Sunsets & Marshmallows Glamping just down the road, it makes a pleasant Sunday morning walk. Free to visit, though there's usually a donations box by the door. Don't expect opening times posted anywhere - it's that sort of place. Turn up during daylight and you'll likely find it open, but check locally if you're making a special journey. Families won't struggle with it, though there's nothing designed to entertain children specifically.