Lower Swineham

An imposing Revival Gothic mansion, Knightshayes Court (20 minutes’ drive) is an exercise in excess, with rich tapestries, gilded ceilings and elaborate chandeliers. Outdoors, there are formal and woodland gardens featuring colourful camellia shrubs and cherry trees, plus terraced areas with expansive views towards Tiverton. If the wildlife on the farm has whetted your appetite for all things animals, Exmoor, with its ponies, deer and butterflies, might well sate it. Exmoor Zoo (35 minutes) runs meet-and-greet experiences with its residents, which include alpacas, tamarin monkeys and cheetahs. Watersports enthusiasts can break out the canoe or the windsurf at Woolacombe (one hour), a vast sandy beach on the Bristol Channel. Walk the South West Coast Path all the way to the Baggy Point headland, where you can stop for a cream tea in an allotment garden, and stay until late afternoon to see the sunset over Lundy Island.