Mill Wood

Tucking into the woods near Plymouth, Mill Wood is a proper forest walk rather than a manicured attraction - which is precisely why it works. You're looking at mixed woodland with trails that wind through beech and oak, the sort of place where the light filters green through the canopy and you actually feel like you've left the city behind.

It's ideal for families wanting something more substantial than a quick park stroll. Kids old enough to handle uneven ground and tree roots will enjoy the exploring aspect - there are streams and clearings that feel genuinely discovered rather than designed. Allow an hour to ninety minutes if you're not rushing. The woodland's close enough to Plymouth that you can do it as a morning jaunt without eating your whole day.

Walkers get the most from Mill Wood. It's not a dramatic landscape - no peaks or dramatic viewpoints - but it rewards the sort of person who likes noticing details: moss patterns, bird calls, the way the forest changes as you go deeper in. Bring decent shoes; it can be boggy after rain.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so go prepared. Free to access, naturally. If you're staying at Hidden Hill Devon - that glamping spot about five miles away with the hot tubs - this makes an easy afternoon walk before heading back for a soak. It's the sort of place that slots nicely into a wider Devon park holiday without demanding anything of you except a bit of time and decent boots.