Kingsbridge

A proper market town feel still lingers in this South Devon spot, despite the tourist tide that washes through each summer. The weekly market on Fore Street draws locals from across the South Hams, while independent shops line the Georgian streets - though you'll find it refreshingly quiet on weekday mornings.

From here, the coastline unfolds like a private kingdom. Mill Bay offers sheltered swimming when the tide's right, while Small's Cove and Sunny Cove provide more intimate spots for those willing to scramble down narrow paths. Venerick's Cove is the pick of the bunch - a proper hidden slice of sand that feels miles from anywhere.

Inland, the countryside rolls away in gentle Devon fashion. Northpool Wood makes for excellent walking, especially in bluebells season, while Halwell Wood and Cockshill Wood offer deeper forest trails. The Bronze Age Field System near Kingsbridge gives you a sense of how long people have been shaping this landscape.

St Andrew's Church dominates the town centre, but venture out to find St Thomas a Beckett for something more atmospheric. The area feels properly rural once you're beyond the main roads - narrow lanes twist through farmland towards isolated hamlets and forgotten coves.

Getting here is straightforward enough from Plymouth or Exeter, though the A381 can crawl in summer. Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you within striking distance of both Salcombe's sailing scene and Dartmoor's wilder edges - not a bad position for a Devon fortnight.