The Passage House Inn

A waterside pub on the Exe Trail between Exeter and Exmouth, right by Topsham's historic ferry crossing. The building started life as The Ferry Inn in 1721 and took its current name in 1822, and the view over the estuary from the garden is the main draw even before the food - boats moored at low tide, herons working the mud, Topsham's coloured houses across the water.

The kitchen sources its meat from Darts Farm just up the road and builds the menu around fish and chips, burgers, steaks and other pub standards, plus a Sunday roast. Inside it splits between a cosy bar and a brighter, more modern restaurant space, and it's a popular stop for walkers and cyclists working the trail between the two towns as much as for a sit-down dinner.