St Bartholemew's

St Bartholomew's sits on the high street in Lynton, a proper Victorian church that catches you with its red sandstone and decent stained glass. It's small but undeniably solid - the kind of parish church that's been holding services since the 1800s and doesn't make a fuss about it.

Inside, the light through the windows is actually worth stopping for. There's nothing theatrical about it, just genuine colour and craft. The church feels lived-in rather than museumified, which is increasingly rare. You'll spend ten minutes here, maybe twenty if you're into Victorian stonework.

It works best as part of a Lynton morning - combine it with a walk along the Valley of the Rocks or a pint at the Crown Hotel without breaking stride. If you're staying at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat just down the road, you're well positioned to drop in without faffing about. Families won't find it especially engaging unless they're genuinely interested in local architecture, but walkers doing the coastal path through North Devon often wander up to have a look. The graveyard's pleasant enough for a brief wander if the weather's decent.

Free to enter, no pretension about it. Go early morning if you can - Lynton gets coach parties in summer and the church is small enough that a dozen tourists make it feel crowded. It's the kind of stop that rewards five minutes of attention without demanding your afternoon.