Beer, Devon

You might think that a coastal Devon holiday would be pricey. But this picturesque fishing village is left alone by the hoards. Who knows why, because it’s a stunner. There’s a photo-album-worthy high street, flint cottages, church spire and a green hilly setting. There are great pubs, too. The Dolphin overlooks the sea and fishing boats on the shore below. The Anchor Inn, meanwhile, has a pub garden serving burgers and beers. A nearby pebble beach is lined by chalky cliffs and kiosks serving tea, cake and ice-creams (Marshfield Farm’s clotted cream with blackcurrants is a winner).

Even in high summer, Beer never feels too crowded. So you won’t feel the need to escape – using up precious petrol finding other things to do. Instead, you can hire a budget self-catering cottage and spend your days absorbing the sunshine on a deckchair. You can even take a plunge in the English Channel.

If you do have some cash for exploring, must-visit spots include Sidmouth, home to afternoon-tea parlours, and Branscombe – walkable in 45 minutes, up past Beer Head cliff. The Mason’s Arms serves good grub on the terrace. At dusk, back in Beer, join the people coming down to barbecue dinner on the seafront. With a BYO wine vibe, it shows thrifty really can be the most fun.

✱ BOOK IT: Sweetcombe Cottage Holidays (sweetcombecottages. co.uk) has cottages sleeping four from £400 per week