Penhallam Manor

The ruins of Penhallam Manor sit on a hillside near Bude, and they're genuinely worth tracking down if you're into medieval archaeology. What you get here is the scattered remains of a 13th-century fortified manor house - stone foundations, partial walls, and enough earthworks to piece together what life looked like for a Norman family seven centuries ago. It's not dramatic in the way of a proper castle, but there's something oddly compelling about standing where people actually lived and worked all that time ago.

You can walk around freely any time, day or night, which is brilliant if you want to avoid crowds. Allow an hour if you're thorough, less if you're just passing through. The site works best for people who enjoy poking around history without needing visitor centres or reconstructions - you need to use your imagination a bit. Families with older kids will get more from it than young ones, since there's no playground or interactive stuff.

Geographically it fits well with a coastal holiday near Bude. If you're staying at Pencuke Farm or one of the other parks in the area, it's a decent walk or short drive inland, which gives you a proper break from the beach routine. The landscape around it is lovely rolling farmland, so the journey there is half the appeal. Pair it with a wander along the North Cornish coast and you've got a solid day sorted.