Tarka the Otter Statue

Standing on the quay in Bideford, you'll spot a bronze otter frozen mid-dive - this is Tarka, the literary legend brought to life by Henry Williamson's 1927 novel. The statue itself is modest, tucked into the town's waterfront where it actually belongs rather than hidden away in a museum foyer, which is refreshingly honest.

Williamson's tale of an otter's journey through North Devon has become so embedded in the region that locals treat this statue almost like a shrine. Kids tend to find it charming - there's something about a bronze animal you can actually touch and sit beside, rather than gazing through glass. The real draw, though, is the river setting. You're not coming here for a two-hour indoor experience; you're coming for a ten-minute riverside wander that ties into a proper morning exploring Bideford's quay.

If you're based at Owl Valley Glamping just across town, or Broad Park Camping further out, this gives you an easy reason to amble into Bideford itself. Combine it with a walk along the Tarka Trail - the actual footpath that shadows Williamson's narrative - and suddenly the statue makes sense as part of something bigger. The trail runs for 180 miles, so you can do as little or as much as you fancy.

Free to view, no faffing with opening hours. Go whenever, really. It's less a destination and more a lovely excuse to get down to the water's edge on a fine afternoon.