The Rock Inn

There's a proper old coaching inn sitting in Devon's landscape that's been pulling people in for centuries. The Rock Inn, near Newton Abbot, is one of those places that feels like it's always been there - and it has, which is half the charm. You'll find it's a working pub with real character, the kind of spot where locals actually drink and the bar stools are worn smooth from genuine use rather than Instagram tourism.

What makes it worth a stop is the sense of place. This isn't a museum piece or a cutesy theme pub - it's a functioning country inn that's survived long enough to matter. The building itself tells you plenty about Devon's past, with the sort of architectural details you notice when you actually sit down with a pint. Walkers route past it regularly, and that's no accident.

It's ideal if you're basing yourself at Oakmoor Touring Park down the road - a quick drive or decent walk depending on your mood - and need somewhere genuine to eat and drink without the faffing about. The kind of place families with older kids will be happy to stop by, though it's really more about the adults enjoying a proper local than it is about attractions in the traditional sense. No entry fee, no set hours to fret about, just a pub being a pub. That's increasingly rare in Devon.