Huntland Wood

The woodland around Tiverton has proper character, and Huntland Wood delivers exactly what you'd hope for from a Devon forest without any of the tourist tat. It's straightforward walking country - the sort of place where you can lose an hour wandering between oak and beech without worrying about crowds or paying an entrance fee.

What you get is genuine woodland, the kind with uneven ground, proper roots to watch your footing on, and that particular Devon damp that clings to everything in autumn. It's ideal for families who actually want to walk rather than queue, and for anyone after a break from the manicured park experience. The trees do their job - they're tall, they're dense, and on a grey afternoon they're oddly atmospheric without being creepy.

There's no visitor centre or cafe, which means you either pack a flask or you don't. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking it at a proper pace, less if you just need thirty minutes of fresh air before heading back to Tiverton. Spring and early summer work best - autumn's lovely but muddy, winter can be proper grim.

If you're staying at Nirvana Glamping nearby, this sits nicely alongside a park holiday without dominating the itinerary. It's the sort of walk you do because you're in the area, not because you've driven two hours to see it. Honest woodland, no pretence.