Nest and Nurture

The wild open moorlands and deep river valleys of Dartmoor National Park (20 minutes’ drive) offer up prehistoric remains like Fernworthy Stone Circle (35 minutes), spectacular views from rocky tors like Bonehill Rocks (40 minutes) and stately mansions including Castle Drogo (20 minutes), designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1931. If you’re keen to keep the exercise regime going, bring bikes from home to explore the national park on two wheels. Experts can get off road, while novice cyclists follow the Granite Way from Okehampton (one hour 40 minutes by bike) to Lydford on a largely traffic-free route following a former railway line. Kids with you? Embrace the sea air on Dawlish Warren Beach (half an hour), where you can stroll on sheltered dunes, swim in shallow calm waves and play mini golf. There are rollercoaster rides and go-karting races at Crealy Theme Park and Resort (half an hour), while quieter days out might include a wander around the UK in miniature at Babbacombe Model Village (40 minutes).