Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall

The walk down to Speke's Mill Mouth is properly steep - I'm talking ankle-jarring drops on a narrow path where tree roots grab at your boots. But that's rather the point. You emerge onto a small shingle beach to find a waterfall tumbling directly onto the shore, which is genuinely dramatic. It's not Niagara, obviously, but for Devon's north coast it's striking enough to make the scramble worthwhile.

The whole experience takes about an hour from the car park near Bideford - twenty minutes down, a bit of lingering on the beach, then the harder slog back up. Families with confident walkers will manage it fine, though younger kids might find the return journey tedious. History buffs will appreciate that there's an old mill site here, though there's not much left to see beyond the waterfall itself.

It's free to visit and open year-round, though winter when water levels are higher gives you a proper show. Summer is busier but the shingle beach is pleasant enough for a picnic if you've got the energy after the climb.

If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Coastal Cabins or Atlantic Horizons are both excellent - this works as a half-day outing alongside the broader Torridge Valley walks. It's not a destination in itself, but coupled with exploring Bideford's quay and the surrounding coastal paths, it fills a morning nicely.