Manscombe Woods

The woodland around Manscombe feels properly ancient the moment you push through the first gate. Towering beeches and oaks create that cathedral-like quiet you only get when trees have been doing their thing for centuries. It's a straightforward walk through Devon forest - nothing flashy, no visitor centre with overpriced coffee - just you, the canopy, and the sort of paths that change character with the seasons.

The trails here suit families wanting something gentle, or walkers after a proper leg-stretch without climbing some Dartmoor peak. You'll spot the usual woodland birds, maybe a fallow deer if you're lucky, and the light filtering through the leaves in autumn makes it genuinely worth the trip from Paignton (only a handful of miles away). The floor is mostly soft underfoot from decades of dropped leaves, which the kids appreciate.

Walking time depends entirely on how leisurely you want to be. Two hours covers a solid loop; half an hour gets you into the real forest atmosphere and back. There's no formal facilities that I could pin down, so bring water and don't rely on finding shelter. It's free to access, which is frankly brilliant.

If you're based at South Bay Holiday Park near Paignton, this is a proper alternative to the beaches on days the weather turns cagey. The woodland itself stays dry longer than you'd expect, and it's quiet enough that you'll actually hear yourselves think. Not Instagram-friendly, but genuinely restorative.