Harpford Wood

The woodland around Harpford feels properly unspoilt - old-growth trees, dappled light filtering through the canopy, and enough quiet to actually hear birdsong. It's the sort of place where you can wander for an hour and genuinely lose track of time, which is either brilliant or maddening depending on whether you've got restless kids in tow.

There's no visitor centre, no cafe, no facilities to speak of. You just turn up and walk. The paths are decent enough underfoot, though after rain they can be muddy - bring proper boots. Dog walkers love it here, and so do people trying to escape Budleigh Salterton's beach crowds without going far. It's maybe twenty minutes from the town centre, so dead handy as a half-day detour.

Walkers and nature types will get the most out of it. Young children might manage a shorter loop, but honestly, it's not a destination in itself - it's more the sort of woods you'd include as part of a wider day exploring the area. That said, if you're staying at any of the nearby parks like Cuckoo Down Farm or Ladram Bay, this is exactly the kind of local ramble that makes those holidays work. No entrance fee, no time pressure, just you and the trees.

Go early on a weekday if you want proper solitude. Weekends bring the whole of East Devon out here.