South Myrtelbury Iron Age Enclosure

You won't find gift shops or tea rooms at South Myrtelbury - just a proper Iron Age settlement perched on Devon hillside near Lynton, with earthwork ramparts still visible after two thousand years. It's the sort of place that rewards a bit of effort: parking up in Lynton and walking out gives you time to actually think about who lived here and why they chose this particular ridge.

The enclosure itself consists of defensive banks and ditches forming a rough circle - nothing dramatically photogenic, but genuinely atmospheric once you start imagining the roundhouses and livestock that would have filled the space. On a clear day the views across the moorland are excellent, and the sense of standing where Iron Age families stood is properly moving if you let it be.

Historians and anyone with a genuine interest in archaeology will get real value from spending an hour here. Families with young children might find it a bit underwhelming unless you're prepared to do some storytelling - there's no interpretation boards, just the earthworks themselves. Walkers heading through the area should absolutely include it, especially combined with exploring the dramatic coastline and valleys that make this corner of North Devon so compelling.

The real strength is as part of a wider walking holiday. Lynmouth Holiday Retreat sits just over a mile away and makes a comfortable base for exploring not just Iron Age sites but the entire Exmoor edge. Wear decent boots, go early in the day, and allow a couple of hours including the walk from town.