Torrington Pool

You'll find Torrington Pool tucked away near Bideford in mid-Devon - a proper local swimming facility that does exactly what it says on the tin without the theme park nonsense. It's a standard leisure complex with indoor and outdoor pools, the kind of place where you can actually swim lengths rather than queue for a water slide. Fair bit quieter than the big municipal pools you get in cities, which means fewer screaming toddlers if that's your thing.

This is genuinely useful if you're staying at one of the glamping spots nearby - Owl Valley or Broad Park are both within a few miles - and the weather's turned iffy mid-holiday. The outdoor pool won't appeal much in winter, but come summer it's a decent spot to cool off between countryside walks. Kids will get an hour or two out of it maximum, mind you. There's nothing fancy here - no rapids, no wave machines - just straightforward swimming and paddling in a clean pool.

Opening hours and admission prices aren't listed on the council website, so ring Active Torridge (they run the place) before you go. Don't assume it's open when you fancy visiting. The pool is genuinely useful as part of a broader holiday itinerary rather than a destination in itself - think rainy afternoon in North Devon where you need to burn energy indoors. Worth the short drive from your accommodation if you're already in the area, but don't rearrange your plans around it.