CHUDLEIGH BOWLING CLUB

Chudleigh Bowling Club sits just outside Newton Abbot, a proper local spot that won't appear on any tourist board's radar - and that's rather the point. This is where you'll find the real Devon experience: a well-maintained green, friendly regulars nursing pints in the clubhouse, and a sport that moves at precisely the right pace for a leisurely afternoon.

If you've got a reasonable level of skill - or honestly, even if you don't - the club welcomes visitors for a game. The green itself is in decent nick, the sort of place where an afternoon can disappear without you noticing. It's not free, mind you, and you'll want to ring ahead to check availability and book a lane, but costs are modest. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you're actually playing; longer if you plan to stay for a drink after.

Families with teenagers who fancy something low-key will find it acceptable. Young children might get bored after twenty minutes unless they're genuinely keen on the sport. This isn't a rainy-day activity - you'll need decent weather.

Worth combining with a stay at Oakmoor Touring Park just 2.5 miles away if you're keen on a quieter, adults-only holiday base, or pair it with Cofton Holidays for something more family-oriented. The club itself won't occupy a full day, but as part of a broader Newton Abbot exploration - the town's got reasonable shops and pubs - it slots in nicely.