The Clovelly Waterfall

The waterfall near Clovelly is a proper reward for a short woodland walk inland from this famous coastal village. You're looking at a cascade tumbling through thick Devon woodland - nothing dramatic like the Lake District's big drops, but genuine and surprisingly lush once you're away from the touristy harbour below.

It's the kind of place that works best for families who don't mind a gentle ramble and want something different from the usual seaside routine. The walk itself takes twenty minutes or so depending on your pace and how much you dawdle. Older kids will enjoy spotting the water through the trees; younger ones might lose interest after the initial splash. History buffs won't find much here - it's nature rather than heritage - but walkers after a woodland stretch between trips to Bideford or the coast will rate it highly.

Getting there is straightforward enough from the village, though parking at Clovelly itself gets rammed in summer. The waterfall's free, naturally, and there's no formal opening times since it's essentially just water running downhill. Combine this with a walk round the village harbour itself, and you've got a solid half-day. If you're camping at Roeys Retreat just up the road or staying at Coastal Cabins, it's barely worth the drive elsewhere - slot it in between other coastal outings. Weather matters here though: go after decent rain and it's worth the trip; in drought conditions, don't expect much of a show.