The Bark Park

The Bark Park near Seaton is exactly what it sounds like - a dedicated space where dogs can properly let loose without a lead in sight. It's not a fancy affair, just a sensible bit of fencing around open ground where your dog can sprint about, chase a ball, and actually behave like a dog for once instead of trudging beside you on a lead through the village.

You'll want to allow maybe 30 to 45 minutes here, depending on how knackered your pooch gets. It's brilliant if you're staying at Beer Head Holiday Park up the coast and need to burn off some serious energy before heading back to your caravan. The setup is straightforward - enclosed space, room to run, that's the lot. Bring a ball or a toy and you're golden.

Best visited on a quieter weekday if you can manage it, because school holidays turn the place into a proper pack. Fair warning: it's not scenic in the slightest. There's no café, no benches to speak of, no Instagram moment waiting to happen. But that's rather the point. This is functional dog heaven, not a tourist attraction wearing a fancy hat.

If your holiday involves a dog and you're anywhere near Seaton, it's worth knowing about. Gets the job done when your spaniel or terrier is climbing the walls of the holiday accommodation. Just don't expect much beyond what the name promises.