St John the Evangelist church, Countisbury

The climb up to St John the Evangelist is steep enough to leave you catching your breath, but then you round the final bend and the church sits there like a proper reward. Built in 1837 on a hilltop overlooking the Exmoor coast near Lynton, it's small and unassuming from the outside - Victorian stone with a squat tower - but the interior has real character. The views across the cliffs and down to Lynmouth are genuinely spectacular, the kind that make the effort worthwhile.

Walkers staying at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat will find this a natural stopping point on a day out exploring the area. The approach takes you through proper countryside, and the church itself won't eat into your time - thirty minutes to look around, take in the views from the churchyard, and you're done. It's not a grand historical site or anything; you're not going to spend an hour inside studying monuments. But if you're already exploring the coast path or tackling the local trails, it's well worth the detour.

The real draw is the location. On a clear day you can see right across the Bristol Channel, and even when it's a bit grey, there's something atmospheric about standing up there. Getting there means a proper walk - no coach access - which keeps the crowds minimal. That's actually a point in its favour. Free to enter, as far as we could tell, and with no set hours posted anywhere.