St Mary's Church, Newton Abbot

St Mary's Church sits right in the heart of Newton Abbot, a solid medieval presence that's easy to walk past if you're not paying attention. It's a proper parish church - the sort of place where locals have been christened, married and buried for centuries. The building itself is Grade I listed, which tells you straight away there's something worth looking at here.

Inside, you'll find the usual ecclesiastical treasures: decent stained glass, some carved memorials, and that particular smell of old stone and hymn books that defines English parish churches. It's not dramatic or showy, but it rewards a quiet wander round. The tower's notable enough - fifteenth century work mostly - and gives the town's skyline a bit of character.

This is really one for people who actually like churches, to be honest. If you're after Instagram moments and dramatic architecture, look elsewhere. But if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Dornafield is barely a mile and a half away, or The Smithy's glamping pods not much further - it's worth a thirty-minute detour on a rainy afternoon or while waiting for the rest of the family to get ready.

Newton Abbot itself is a proper working market town, not some heritage attraction, so St Mary's functions as its spiritual heart rather than as a museum piece. Access is usually free, though hours aren't always consistent. Ring ahead if it matters.