St Edmund, King & Martyr

The church sits on a quiet corner of Kingsbridge, a solid medieval structure that rewards a casual wander even if you're not particularly religious. St Edmund, King & Martyr is proper old - the sort of place where you can actually feel the weight of centuries in the stonework and notice details that reveal themselves slowly: carved roof bosses, worn flagstones, windows that tell stories if you bother to look.

It's the kind of stop that works brilliantly if you're already in town picking up groceries or heading to the riverside. Twenty minutes is enough to have a proper look around, though you could easily spend longer if the light's good and you're into medieval architecture. The interior has that particular smell all old churches do - damp stone, old wood, something indefinably peaceful.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate it more than children, if we're being honest. Unless your kids are genuinely fascinated by church architecture, they'll be restless within five minutes. Adults, though, especially those interested in Devon's religious heritage, will find it quietly compelling.

If you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Wilton Farm or Lower Terawhiti are both within easy driving distance - it's worth combining with a proper walk along the Kingsbridge estuary or a visit to the town's small shops. Free to enter, no faffing about with opening hours that we can find, which is how parish churches should work. Not a destination in itself, but exactly the sort of local detail that makes a countryside trip feel properly lived-in rather than just ticked-off.