The Priory

The ruins of The Priory sit quietly on the outskirts of West Hill, a sobering reminder of what Reformation zeal leaves behind. What remains are fragmentary stone walls and foundations - enough to sketch the outline of a medieval religious community, but not enough to reconstruct it entirely. You'll need some imagination here, and ideally a bit of local knowledge to make sense of what you're looking at.

History enthusiasts will find this worthwhile, particularly those interested in how the Dissolution played out across Devon. The site itself demands perhaps twenty minutes of poking about, longer if you're the type to sketch ruins or photograph stonework. It's free to visit and accessible most of the time, though there's no formal visitor infrastructure - bring a map or your phone's GPS.

For families with younger children, this might feel underwhelming. There's no play area, no interpretation boards, and the ruins don't tell an obvious story to a nine-year-old. That said, older kids interested in history will find it less boring than you'd expect, especially if you prime them beforehand.

If you're staying at Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping or Oakdown Touring and Holiday Caravan Park, The Priory makes a decent add-on to a rambling afternoon. It's not a destination in itself - don't base your entire break around visiting - but combined with a walk through the surrounding countryside it becomes part of something larger. Go on a clear day. Low light makes these stones properly atmospheric.