The Buckland Brewers

You need to ring ahead to visit The Buckland Brewers - they don't just open their doors whenever you fancy popping in. Located near Bideford in Devon, this is a proper working brewery where the owners actually care about who walks through. Once you get inside, you'll see the whole operation: the brewing equipment, the fermentation tanks, the works. They talk you through their process and you get to taste what they've made. It's hands-on stuff, not a slick visitor attraction with gift shops and laminated boards.

This works best for beer enthusiasts rather than casual drinkers. If you've got mates who can't stop banging on about hop profiles and yeast strains, they'll be in heaven. Families with young kids might find it a bit dull - there's only so long a seven-year-old will stare at a tank. The appointment-only setup means it's quieter than theme brewery visits elsewhere, which is either brilliant or annoying depending on what you want.

Allow a couple of hours, maybe longer if they're chatty. Check their website first and book well ahead - they're not huge and slots fill up. As for the cost, ring them direct to ask.

If you're staying at Broad Park Camping and Glamping or Owl Valley Glamping nearby, it's an easy spin over one afternoon. Pair it with a proper walk around the Devon coast or a pint in Bideford itself afterwards.