St Mary the Virgin, Holne

The church sits quietly in Holne village, just a few miles south of South Brent, its tower rising above the moorland in a way that makes you understand why it's been there since medieval times. St Mary the Virgin is proper old - we're talking 13th century foundations - and stepping inside feels like walking through a door time forgot. The interior is straightforward Devon: stone walls, a handful of stained glass windows that catch the light differently depending on the hour, and the sort of stillness you only get in country churches.

This isn't a destination in itself, to be honest. It's the sort of place you'd stumble upon while walking the Dartmoor trails nearby, or driving between South Brent and the moor. But if you're based at Ashbourne Woods or exploring that corner of Dartmoor National Park, an hour's wander through the churchyard and around the village is well worth doing. The walk in from the lane is pleasant enough, and the views across the valley remind you why people settled here in the first place.

Historians and anyone interested in rural Devon will get more from it than families with restless kids. There's not much to do once you've looked around - maybe 20 minutes inside if you're thorough, another 20 if you explore the graveyard. Check locally for opening times when you arrive in the area, though country churches tend to be accessible during daylight. Free to enter.