Orcombe Point

The red cliffs at Orcombe Point are impossible to miss once you're in Exmouth - they rear up from the beach like a sudden geological lesson, all crimson sandstone and unexpected drama for the Devon coast. You can walk right up to them, explore the base, or take the South West Coast Path that snakes along the top, offering views back towards Exmouth and out toward the wider coastline. It's not a destination that requires hours - forty minutes to an hour is realistic unless you're a proper geologist keen on examining the strata - but it's exactly the sort of thing you do between breakfast and lunch when staying at one of the nearby parks.

Families with younger kids will find the beach access straightforward enough, though the walk across shale can be a bit awkward underfoot. Older children and walkers will get more from the clifftop path, which gives genuine views without being punishing. The rocks themselves are worth photographing, especially in low light when the red deepens. There's no admission charge and no facilities at the point itself, so come prepared with water and a packed snack if you're planning a longer explore.

It works well if you're based at Haven Devon Cliffs or Dawlish Sands - both are minutes away - and it breaks up a park-based holiday nicely. Not a full day out, but a proper little coastal stop that justifies the short walk.