St Catherine Church

The church sits on a quiet lane outside Exeter, stone walls weathered to that particular grey-brown that only English churches manage. Inside, it's properly peaceful - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which feels rarer every year.

St Catherine is a working parish church rather than a museum piece, so it still feels lived-in. The interior has that honest, unfussy quality of many Devon churches - nothing too showy, just solid medieval bones with later additions that somehow work. If you're into old buildings at all, there's enough here to spend half an hour picking out the interesting bits. The windows are worth a proper look.

This won't blow your mind if you've been to Exeter Cathedral or any of the grander churches in the region, but that's rather the point. It's the kind of place to visit if you're spending time in the area anyway - a proper stop on a country walk rather than a destination trip. Free to pop in during opening hours, though exact times aren't always posted for smaller churches, so your best bet is ringing ahead or checking the church's noticeboard.

If you're based at Sunsets & Marshmallows Glamping just down the road, this makes a gentle post-breakfast wander before heading into Exeter proper. Nothing strenuous, nothing demanding - just a quiet morning spent with some decent old architecture and a bit of local history.