Skern View Dog Field in North Devon

The view from Skern View, just outside Bideford, is one of those spots that stops you mid-stride. You're standing on high ground looking out across the Torridge estuary, and on a clear day it's properly impressive - the river snaking through green fields, the whole landscape laid out like a map beneath you.

It's a dog field, which means if you've got a spaniel or a collie in the back of the car, they'll be in their element here. Plenty of space to let them off the lead and watch them bomb around while you take in the views. The walk itself is easy enough, nothing strenuous, so it works for families with young kids or older walkers who don't fancy anything ambitious.

I'd give yourself twenty minutes to half an hour here - long enough to absorb the view and let the dog tire itself out, but not so long you'll be standing around twiddling your thumbs. There's a real sense of peace to the place; you won't find crowds or gift shops, just open countryside and that big sky above.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Braddicks is closest at under two miles away - it's an easy detour during your holiday. Pair it with a walk around Bideford itself, or head towards Croyde if you want a beach fix. It's the sort of place locals know about and visitors often miss, which rather suits it.