Sir Francis Drake

The link between Sir Francis Drake and Devon runs deeper than most tourists realise. Near Tavistock, the countryside holds genuine connections to the Elizabethan seafarer - not just the famous Drake's Drum legend, but actual places where he walked and worked. If you're staying at Woodovis or Langstone Manor, both within three miles, you can piece together fragments of his story across the landscape.

What makes this worthwhile is the absence of heavy-handed interpretation. There's no gift shop, no themed restaurant. Instead, you get to explore on foot - local pubs will point you toward relevant spots, and the moorland itself tells you more than any plaque could. The countryside around Tavistock is genuinely beautiful, rolling in that way that makes Devon proper. History enthusiasts will find themselves thinking about Tudor England whilst actually standing in it, which is rarer than you'd expect.

Allow a full day if you want to do it justice. Start early, bring decent boots - the paths can be muddy even weeks after rain. The walks are moderate, nothing that'll exhaust you, but they're real walks through actual Devon, not theme-park routes. Families with older kids who can manage three miles on uneven ground will get something from it. Younger children? Probably won't grab them, to be honest.

The real value sits in the walking itself and the sense of place. You're not just learning about Drake - you're learning why Devon mattered to him. That's worth the trip from your holiday park.