Copper Wood

Walk into Copper Wood and you're immediately surrounded by tall conifers and the kind of quiet you don't get anywhere near civilisation. It's a proper forest - dense enough that you lose sight of the open sky, with paths winding through between the trees and a layer of needles soft underfoot.

The woodland sits just outside Lynton, making it an easy leg-stretch if you're based at Lynmouth Holiday Retreat down the road. The trees here were planted generations ago, and they've grown into something genuinely atmospheric. You can wander for an hour or three depending on how deep you want to go - the canopy stays thick throughout, so it's brilliant on scorching days when everywhere else is baking.

Historically minded types will appreciate that this area was logged commercially for years, and you can still spot the remnants of old management in the way the forest is structured. It's not ancient woodland, but it's got character.

Bring proper footwear - the paths get boggy in wet weather, and they're not maintained to theme-park standards. Go early if you can; the light filtering through the branches is best before mid-morning, and you'll have the place mostly to yourself. Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to actually explore rather than just stomp through.

Families with young kids might find it a bit samey after thirty minutes unless they're proper nature enthusiasts. But for anyone who enjoys a genuine woodland walk without the crowds, it's well worth the detour from Lynton.