National Trust - Ashclyst Forest

The forest sits just outside Exeter, and it's the kind of place where you can actually breathe properly after a stint in the city. Ashclyst Forest is National Trust land - 260 acres of mixed woodland that feels properly wild without requiring fell boots and a map reference. You walk here. That's the main event. The paths wind through beech and oak, and in autumn it's properly golden. Spring's decent too if you like bluebells, though you'll share the place with half of Devon.

Families with primary-school kids will get a solid few hours out of it. Teenagers might find it a bit samey after an hour, unless they're the type who actually notice birds and fungi and that sort of thing. The trails aren't demanding - no climbs that'll leave you furious - but they're long enough to feel like proper exercise rather than a stroll round the block.

There's nothing elaborate here. No visitor centre, no café, no playground. Just woodland and peace and the occasional rabbit. Which is rather the point. If you're staying at Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping nearby, this is a straightforward morning or afternoon walk. Free access, as National Trust should be for members. Check the Trust's website for any seasonal closures or events because these things change, but generally you can rock up and get on with it. Best when it's not heaving with school groups, so weekday mornings in term time are your sweet spot.