Heddon Wood

The trees here are proper old - broadleaf woodland that feels like it's been standing since before anyone bothered naming things in Devon. Heddon Wood sits inland from Plymouth, close enough for a morning visit but far enough to feel genuinely separate from the city rush.

It's a straightforward walk through mixed woodland, the kind of place where you notice light filtering through the canopy and remember why people bang on about forests. The paths are decent without being manicured, and if you're after a proper stretch of legs rather than a tourist trail, this delivers. Maybe 45 minutes to an hour depending on which route you take and how often you stop to stare at things.

Families with young kids will get decent mileage from it - there's enough going on to hold their attention without it being some staged experience. Walkers and dog owners clearly make good use of it. But I'll be honest: if you're coming solely for Heddon Wood, you might feel a bit shortchanged after half an hour. It's the kind of spot that works best as part of a wider Devon loop, especially if you're based at somewhere like Hidden Hill just down the road. That glamping site makes it easy to combine a morning woodland wander with proper downtime.

Free to access, no faffing about with tickets or opening hours that catch you out. Worth knowing the ground can be boggy after rain, so decent boots are sensible rather than optional.