St Andrew's Church, Colyton

The tower of St Andrew's catches you first - a proper Devon perpendicular job rising above the high street in Colyton, and it's been doing that since the 14th century. Inside, the church is all soaring timber roofs and carved wooden screens that somehow survived the Reformation. The screen work is genuinely outstanding, the kind of detail that rewards a slow walk rather than a quick snap.

Colyton itself is a small village that actually warrants a proper poke around. The church sits at its heart, and you're looking at maybe 45 minutes to an hour inside if you're the type who reads the plaques and looks at the memorial brasses. Families won't have children bored to tears - there's enough visual interest and it's not enormous, so it doesn't feel like a slog.

It's free to visit, though you might find the door locked on quieter days (it's worth asking locally in Colyton). The walk around the churchyard is lovely, especially in late afternoon when the light catches the stone properly.

If you're staying at Beer Head Holiday Park or Oakdown - both within easy striking distance - this is a solid half-hour detour en route to Seaton or if you're exploring the Axe Valley. The Devon coastal path passes nearby too, so you could combine it with a proper walk. Don't go expecting a tourist circus - this is proper village church visiting, the kind of thing that makes a rainy afternoon satisfying rather than frustrating.