Our special spots...

We all have one – a favourite spot where we go to lose the crowds and escape from it all for a while. CHRISSY HARRIS asked some Devon residents to name their go-to happy places

- CHRISSY HARRIS

DR SAM WILLIS, TV historian: “I always head towards water as I have a working cocker spaniel called Geronimo who swims like an otter. He has also broken both of his front legs in the past and can’t go on long walks – but he adores swimming.

“Hope Cove in South Devon I love for its stillness and clearness of the water; I love swimming with Mo out at high tide to the harbour wall and diving down into the deep rock gullies.

“Columb John (near Killerton) is fabulous for the gentle streams where I can sit and plan my next podcast or rehearse my evening live show performance while Mo plays with stones and sticks.”

See historiesoftheunexpected. com

SARAH CAMPBELL, associate director for arts and culture, University of Exeter: “When I moved from London to Devon for work, I hoped to be in a greener, cleaner environment but hadn’t anticipated just how beautiful the grounds of my new workplace would be.

“Reaching the University of Exeter’s Streatham campus is a slog up a steep hill, but it’s definitely worth the effort. Instead of feeling like a university with good landscaping, it feels more like a huge park with a university in the middle. The whole setting is rich with trees, ponds, gardens and wildlife, with fantastic views over the hills. I am often bouncing between meetings at opposite ends of campus, and always get a bit of respite and calm on my walk between venues.