Victoria Park

A few minutes on foot from Paignton town centre, Victoria Park is where locals actually go when they want a proper breath of fresh air without the fairground noise. It's a genuine nature reserve rather than the typical seaside park - genuinely wild in parts, with woodland trails threading through what feels like genuine countryside despite being five minutes from the seafront.

You'll find ponds, open grassland, and enough trees to convince you've actually left town. The paths aren't manicured or anything - they're proper forest walking, which means it's excellent for anyone who fancies a leg-stretch without the crowds choking the promenade. Families with young kids will find enough space to let them run about, though there's no playground equipment to speak of, so don't expect theme-park facilities.

Walkers and nature types will genuinely rate this. The birdwatching's decent - bring binoculars if you're into that sort of thing. It's free to enter, which is the best bit, and you can easily spend an hour or two without paying a penny. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be quieter than midday.

Staying at one of the nearby parks - Hoburne Devon Bay is closest at just over a mile - makes Victoria Park a solid backup when your kids tire of the beach or you've had enough of the arcades. It's not a day-long destination, but it's absolutely worth the short walk from wherever you're staying in the Paignton area. Proper Devon air, no season passes required.