Crediton

The railway line threading through this corner of mid-Devon tells you everything about Crediton's enduring charm. Several stations dot the countryside - Copplestone, Morchard Road, Lapford - each one a gateway to rolling farmland that seems to stretch endlessly under wide skies.

Crediton itself has that proper market town feel, unhurried and genuine. The surrounding landscape is quintessentially Devon: green fields divided by ancient hedgerows, patches of woodland like Three Shilling Close Copse and Alderplot Wood, and the kind of countryside that changes subtly with each season. It's lovely walking territory, especially around the archaeological treasures scattered through the area.

History buffs will find plenty to poke about. Lapford Roman Fort offers a glimpse into the area's ancient past, while the remains of Ring and Baily Castle speak to medieval times. The Forestry Commission marked its first tree plantings here in 1919 - a bit of 20th-century history worth noting.

For a round of golf with proper Devon views, Waterbridge Golf Club delivers. The Old Fair Mosaic and Zeal Monachorum Village Sign show off local artistic flair, though you'll need to hunt them out - they're not exactly signposted tourist trails.

Getting here is straightforward enough. The railway runs regular services through the area, and you're well-positioned between Exeter to the south and the wilder reaches of Dartmoor beyond. It's about half an hour from Exeter by car, making it easily accessible yet feeling properly rural.

Staying at one of the local holiday parks makes perfect sense if you want to explore this slice of Devon properly. You get the countryside on your doorstep, easy access to the rail network, and that sense of being somewhere real rather than packaged for tourists.