St Mary's Church, Mary Tavy

The church sits at the heart of Mary Tavy village like something from a watercolour postcard, all grey stone and weathered dignity. St Mary's is a proper medieval building with enough character to make you want to linger, even if you're not typically the church-visiting type. The interior has that particular smell of old wood and stone that instantly transports you somewhere calmer, and the local memorials tell stories of centuries of village life.

It's the kind of place walkers stumble upon between longer Dartmoor routes, rather than a destination in itself. If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Langstone Manor is just 3.2 miles away, or Woodovis if you fancy glamping pods - it makes a lovely short leg-stretch. Give yourself twenty minutes to have a proper look around. The churchyard is peaceful if slightly overgrown, which somehow adds to the charm rather than detracting from it.

Access appears to be during daylight hours and free, though you should double-check locally as opening times aren't consistently advertised. Mary Tavy is only four miles south of Okehampton, so it's easily reached as part of a wider Dartmoor exploration. Best visited on a clear day when the light comes through the windows properly - rainy afternoons can feel a touch gloomy in here. Not a must-do by any means, but if you're staying in the area and fancy an easy walk with some history attached, it's worth twenty minutes of your time.