St Michael’s Church, West Hill, East Devon

The church sits at the top of West Hill with views that stretch right across the Exe Estuary and down to the coast. It's a proper whitewashed building, straightforward and honest-looking, the sort of place that anchors a tiny village rather than dominates it.

Inside, you'll find exactly what you'd expect from a parish church - decent medieval bones, a few brass plaques on the walls telling the stories of local families who've lived here for centuries, and that particular smell that's unique to old churches, part damp stone and part beeswax. The bell tower is the real draw if you're into that sort of thing. There's something appealing about how it's managed to stay relatively unchanged while villages around it have grown and changed completely.

Walkers will find this worth a detour, especially if you're staying at Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping just down the hill - the short climb rewards you with sightlines that make the effort feel worthwhile. It's not a major historical site or an architectural showstopper, so don't expect to spend more than thirty minutes here. Come for the views and the quiet rather than the building itself.

The fact that it's free and accessible without fuss makes it an easy add-on to a longer walk around the area. If you're based at Ladram Bay Holiday Park over towards Budleigh Salterton, it's worth combining with coastal walks rather than making a special journey. Morning light works best if you're planning to take photographs.