East Portlemouth St. Winwaloe's Church

The church sits at the end of a narrow lane that feels like it belongs to another century entirely. St. Winwaloe's is a modest affair - whitewashed walls, weathered stone, the sort of place that makes you think about why anyone built a church here at all, then realise it's because the views across the estuary are absolutely stunning. Inside, it's all medieval charm and creaking floorboards, with the kind of quiet that makes you forget Kingsbridge exists just a few miles away.

Walkers and history enthusiasts will get the most from this one. The approach alone - through fields and down to the water's edge - is proper lovely, especially if you're basing yourself at Wilton Farm Camping just up the road. The church itself doesn't demand hours; twenty minutes inside and you've seen what there is to see. But the location makes it worth the detour, particularly if you're combining it with walks along the Salcombe estuary.

The real appeal is the combination of things. You get a genuine bit of medieval Devon, a riverside setting that's genuinely peaceful, and it fits neatly into a broader explore of the area around Start Bay. There's no café, no gift shop, no fanfare - which is exactly why it works. Bring decent shoes if you're coming from Wilton Farm; the path down can be muddy. Free to visit, naturally.