Bampton Bark Park

The bark park in Bampton is a straightforward spot - basically a fenced field where dogs can tear around without leads. Nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. It's the sort of place where your spaniel can actually be a dog for twenty minutes instead of plodding beside you on the lead through town.

The setup is no-frills: open grass, decent fencing, and room enough for a decent sprint. You'll see the usual suspects - labradoodles, border collies, the odd stubborn terrier who'd rather dig than socialise. Locals bring their dogs here regularly, so it's decent for working out who plays nicely and who's going to steal the tennis ball.

With Tiverton just a few miles away, it slots neatly into a dog-friendly day out rather than being a destination in itself. If you're staying at Nirvana Glamping nearby - which is properly excellent, by the way - this becomes handy for burning off pent-up energy before settling down for the evening. Twenty minutes does the job.

Timing matters more than most spots. Early morning or late afternoon tends quieter, which some dogs prefer. The ground can get boggy in winter, so pick your visit accordingly. It's free, unsupervised, and utterly unpretentious - exactly what a dog park should be. Not Instagram-worthy, but your dog will absolutely prefer it that way.