Dartington Trust

The Dartington Estate sprawls across 1,200 acres of Devon countryside just outside Newton Abbot, and it's one of those places that rewards a proper wander. You're looking at a 14th-century castle at its heart - genuine medieval ruins, not the reconstructed sort - alongside a Georgian mansion that the Elmhirst family converted into something rather special in the 1920s. The grounds are what grab you though. Formal gardens give way to woodland, there's a working farm, and paths wind through what feels like genuine rural England rather than a manicured visitor attraction.

It works best for people who enjoy architecture and landscape design rather than those after a quick photo stop. Families with older kids will find plenty to explore on foot, though younger ones might tire after an hour or so if they're after rides or play areas. History types will lose entire afternoons here, particularly if the estate's role in the back-to-the-land movement interests them.

The Trust runs the place nowadays with an eye toward arts and community, so there's often something on - workshops, performances, that sort of thing - though nothing you need to plan around. Admission details vary depending on which bits you want to access, so check ahead. Allow a morning minimum if you're serious about it, longer if the weather's decent and you fancy sitting about in the grounds. Ashbourne Woods holiday park sits just 4.2 miles away, making this an easy addition to a Devon break without needing to trek to another corner of the county.