The Byes

The Byes is a proper coastal nature reserve just outside Sidmouth where the cliffs drop away and you get proper views across Lyme Bay. It's grassland, really - the kind of place where you can spend an hour wandering about without seeing another soul, spotting whatever birds are about depending on the season. The paths are straightforward enough, nothing that'll knacker you, and it feels like the sort of spot locals use rather than tourists hauling themselves about with selfie sticks.

Walkers and birdwatchers will genuinely enjoy it. Bring binoculars if that's your thing, but honestly it's fine just to sit on the grass and watch the sea. The cliffs themselves aren't dramatic - this isn't Exmoor - but there's something quite meditative about the space. Families with young kids might find an hour about right before everyone gets restless, though if yours are into rock pools and beach pottering, you're only minutes from proper beach access down towards Sidmouth itself.

It's free to access and there's no faffing about with opening hours. Go whenever. Spring and early summer bring decent wildflowers and breeding birds; autumn can be good for migrants. Winter's quieter still but the light's often better.

If you're based at any of the nearby parks - Ladram Bay's closest at under three miles - The Byes makes an easy morning or late afternoon walk without needing to pile everyone back in the car. It's the sort of place that settles a day down, honestly. Not spectacular, but genuinely peaceful.