Sir Walter Raleigh statue

The statue stands in Budleigh Salterton, a modest seaside town that doesn't shout about its history but should. Sir Walter Raleigh was born here in 1552, and the monument marks that connection - though honestly, it's not the sort of thing that'll keep you rooted to the spot for hours. You're looking at a bronze figure that's been quietly presiding over the town for decades, doing what statues do.

What makes it worth a visit is the story attached to it rather than the sculpture itself. This is where one of England's most controversial figures - explorer, pirate, poet, and politician - had his roots. If you're into Tudor history or Elizabethan adventurers, there's a genuine frisson to standing here knowing Raleigh walked these same streets. For families on a park holiday at Ladram Bay or Castle Brake, it's a decent stop on a coastal walk, takes five minutes, costs nothing, and teaches the kids something real.

Budleigh Salterton itself is the real draw - a proper Victorian seaside town with pebble beaches and a gentler pace than the flashier resorts nearby. The statue lives on the town's main streets, impossible to miss once you're wandering about. Best visited as part of a longer explore of the town rather than as a destination in itself. The nearby holiday parks make it a natural pit stop during a South Devon break, and it gives you an excuse to poke around the high street afterwards. Go on a dry day when you can actually spend time browsing the local shops and seafront.