St Stephen's

The tower of St Stephen's rises above Bideford's higgledy-piggledy roofline like a stubborn finger pointing at the sky. It's the parish church, medieval at heart, and worth a proper look if you're wandering the town centre between the quay and the shops.

Inside, it's got the usual suspects - stone arches, wooden pews worn smooth by centuries of bottoms, some decent stained glass. The real draw is the sense of continuity. People have been getting married, christened, and buried here for over 500 years. Walk round the churchyard and you'll find graves dating back to the 1600s, some so worn you can barely read them.

It's the kind of place that takes 20 minutes if you're in a hurry, longer if you're the type to read every plaque. Not a destination in itself, but genuinely useful if you're staying at Roeys Retreat or Broad Park nearby - both excellent camping options - and fancy an hour in Bideford proper. The town's got decent pubs and the riverside walk is proper lovely.

Free to visit during daylight hours, as far as anyone can tell. No fanfare, no gift shop, just a working church that happens to be quite old. If you're interested in Devon's religious history or just like poking around medieval buildings, it's worth the detour. Everyone else might find 15 minutes is enough.