Brixham Harbour

The working harbour at Brixham is one of those places where you genuinely understand why fishing villages became famous. Fish are landed here constantly - you'll see the boats coming and going, the auction house doing its thing, the whole apparatus of a proper working port still grinding away. Walk down early morning and you catch the real business of it; by afternoon it's more of a tourist stroll, but neither time is wasted.

You're looking at coloured fishing boats bobbing about, a prom lined with fish restaurants and cafes, and some genuinely good views across Torbay if you climb up to the top of the breakwater. The Golden Hind replica sits in the harbour if you fancy a bit of Sir Francis Drake theatre - he allegedly played bowls here, though whether that's true or Victorian invention hardly matters when the story's this good.

Brixham works best if you're staying at South Bay Holiday Park, which is barely a mile away and gives you direct access to the waterfront. Spend an hour wandering the boats, have fish and chips somewhere decent, then head inland if the weather turns. It's not a full afternoon's entertainment by itself, but it's the sort of authentic working place that makes coastal holidays feel genuine rather than generic. Families with young kids will keep them amused for a bit; anyone who actually cares about boats or fishing heritage will stay longer. Free to wander around, though eating or visiting attractions costs the usual amount.