Courtenay Park

You'll find Courtenay Park a proper slice of Devon wildlife tucked just outside Paignton. This nature reserve offers the kind of space where you can actually hear yourself think - something rare enough around the Bay this time of year. The reserve protects woodland and grassland habitats, and if you're patient you might spot anything from butterflies to woodland birds depending on the season. It's the sort of place walkers gravitate towards rather than day-trippers after an ice cream.

The real draw is straightforward: peace and the chance to clock some local wildlife without the theme park crowds that dominate Paignton's seafront. Worth allowing a couple of hours if you're doing the full circuit properly. Bring binoculars if birds are your thing. Families with kids who can manage a proper walk will get the most from it rather than those after playgrounds and attractions.

It slots well into a broader park holiday around here. You're close enough to Parkdean Resorts Torquay Holiday Park (just 3.2 miles) if you're after that kind of base, or The Smithy Luxury Glamping Pods if you want something smaller and less typical caravan park. The location puts you within striking distance of the Torbay beaches too, so you can mix nature reserve mornings with seaside afternoons if the mood takes you.

I'd check with Paignton tourist information for current opening arrangements before you go - details can shift with these places. Free admission though, which is always a bonus.