Hall Plantation

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured tourist trap, Hall Plantation sits inland from Plymouth and gives you the kind of forest experience where you actually feel like you've left the city behind. The trees are dense enough that you lose the sound of traffic quickly, and the paths wind through mixed woodland - beech, oak, conifers - in a way that feels genuinely wild without being inaccessible.

It's the sort of place that works best for people who want to move their legs rather than stand about taking photos. Serious walkers will find themselves pleasantly occupied for an hour or two, and families with kids who aren't fussed about interpretive panels will do well here too. The forest floor is soft underfoot, which is lovely in summer and muddy as anything come winter.

Timing-wise, give yourself a couple of hours minimum if you want to actually explore rather than just pop in for ten minutes. There's no visitor centre or cafe that I'm aware of, so bring your own supplies. It's free to access - or at least it was when locals would mention it - but do check before you go as these things change.

If you're based at Hidden Hill Devon luxury Glamping up the road, this makes a solid morning or afternoon break without eating into your holiday time. Close enough to not be a faff, distant enough to feel like proper countryside. Go early if you want any peace; it's popular with local dog walkers come weekends.