Wallen Down Farm

Mariner’s cap at the ready… you might feel quite the part along the Mariner’s Way (around 40 minutes’ walk). This ancient route was once the rite of passage for sailors making their way down from North Devon ports, who stopped at farms, pubs and villages along the way. The Two Moors Way (half an hour’s walk) is another age-old path, this time along parts of the river Teign, stopping at Castle Drogo (10 minutes’ drive), a National Trust site with an ancient gorge, wildlife trails and terrace garden. While you’re up this way, you might want to cross over the river on the 17th-century stone arch Fingle Bridge (15 minutes). Those of you who go starry-eyed over gorges and other natural scenery may also want to pay a visit to Lydford Gorge (35 minutes). The deepest gorge in the South West, this National Trust site is home to a 35-metre waterfall (a right old spot to go googly-eyed). A fan of a party too? You won’t be too far from a boogie if you time your visit right, as the site for the Chagstock Festival (five minutes) and South Zeal (10 minutes) village’s annual folk festival are both close by.