Blackaton Wood

The woodland floor at Blackaton is properly soft underfoot - a thick carpet of moss and leaf litter that makes walking feel almost soundless. It's the kind of Devon forest that makes you understand why people move here for the peace of it all, just twenty minutes or so south of Exeter.

This isn't a manicured attraction with visitor centres or marked trails. It's a working woodland where you wander among mature trees, pick your own route, and listen to what actually sounds like quiet. The canopy is dense enough that even on a warm day you'll feel the cool. Good for anyone who wants forest without the faffing about - walkers especially will appreciate the lack of crowds and the freedom to go where the path looks interesting.

There's no entrance fee that we can find, no specific opening hours either. You just turn up. Allow a couple of hours if you're genuinely exploring, less if you're after a quick leg-stretch. Autumn is exceptional here - the light changes everything, and you'll actually see where you're putting your feet through the trees.

If you're staying at Woodland Springs or Barley Meadow touring parks nearby, Blackaton makes an easy morning out that breaks up a holiday without requiring any planning. It won't fill a whole day, but it's exactly the sort of low-key woodland jaunt that Devon does better than most places. Bring decent shoes - boggy patches appear when they shouldn't.