Ugbrooke House and Gardens

The drive up to Ugbrooke is half the appeal - winding lanes through proper Devon countryside before the house suddenly appears, all cream-coloured stone and confident Georgian architecture. It's a working family home, not some sterile museum piece, which gives the whole experience an unusual warmth.

Inside, you get the full country house treatment: rooms filled with furniture, paintings, and the sort of objects that suggest real people actually live here rather than just preserve it for display. The gardens are the real draw though. They roll down from the house across parkland with genuine character - not manicured to within an inch of their lives, but thoughtfully designed with mature trees and open vistas. Allow a good couple of hours if you're the type to actually walk them properly.

It's about eight miles south of Newton Abbot, making it an easy half-day outing if you're based at one of the nearby parks like Cofton Holidays or Golden Sands. Families with older children will get the most from it - the house itself requires some attention span, though the gardens will keep restless legs happy. Walkers especially should make the trip; the grounds are substantial enough to properly stretch out.

The admission cost varies seasonally and it's worth checking opening hours before you go - it's not open year-round to visitors. Spring is lovely here when the bulbs are out, though summer gives you longer daylight for the gardens. A proper stately home experience without the pomp.