Strete Chapel

A tiny medieval chapel sits tucked into the Devon hillside near Kingsbridge, commanding views across Start Bay that frankly take your breath away. Strete Chapel is properly small - the sort of place you could walk past without noticing if you weren't looking - but that's rather the point. Built in the 14th century, it's one of those wonderfully humble country churches that feels genuinely removed from the modern world.

The walk down to it is the real draw. You'll pass through farmland and along footpaths with the bay sprawling below you, which makes the modest stone structure feel even more isolated and special when you reach it. Inside, there's not much to see - whitewashed walls, simple fixtures, the bare bones of medieval worship. But that spareness is exactly why it matters. No gift shop. No crowds. Just you, the stones, and centuries of local history.

Historians and walkers will get the most from this. Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming after the initial scramble down, and there's nowhere to sit once you're there. Allow an hour if you're making a proper afternoon of the walk.

If you're based at Start Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just up the road, this is an excellent excuse for an afternoon ramble. Wilton Farm Camping South Devon is a bit further out but still within easy striking distance. The coastal path work here is proper rewarding, and the chapel makes a solid final stop.