Whimple: St Mary Church

The churchyard at St Mary in Whimple is one of those quiet Devon corners you stumble upon by accident and end up spending longer than you planned. It's a proper medieval affair - 15th-century mostly, with a sturdy tower that wouldn't look out of place in a postcard. The interior has that particular smell of old stone and furniture polish that takes you straight back to every school visit you ever made, except this time nobody's forcing you to sit still.

What strikes you most is how genuinely peaceful it is. No gift shop, no interpretation boards, no school groups. Just the church, the graves, and the kind of silence that makes you actually notice birdsong. The tower's worth a look if you can get inside - reasonable proportions, decent stonework - and there's something almost meditative about wandering the graveyard reading Victorian inscriptions.

It's worth the detour if you're already in the West Hill area, particularly if you're basing yourself at Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping three miles away. Honestly though, don't expect to spend more than thirty minutes here. History enthusiasts and anyone who likes quiet churchyards will get something from it. Families with restless kids might find it a bit thin - there's not much interactive going on. Call ahead if you want to be certain it's open when you visit, as opening times aren't publicised online.