Occombe Valley Woods

The woods that run through Occombe Valley, just inland from Paignton, are Devon's answer to a proper woodland walk without the crowds. It's a working nature reserve managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust, which means the paths are well-maintained and the habitat actually means something.

You get a mix of mature woodland and open grassland, with a stream running through the valley floor. The main draw is simply walking - there are marked trails at different lengths, so you can do anywhere from a gentle forty-minute loop to something longer if you're feeling ambitious. The woodland canopy is thick enough in summer to make it feel like a proper escape from the coastal chaos of Paignton. Birdwatchers come here for a reason. If you've got young kids, they'll find enough space to let off steam, though it's not a playground situation.

It costs nothing to visit and there are no fixed opening hours - you just turn up. Spring and early summer are best, when the bluebells come through and the birds are vocal. Winter's fine too if you don't mind muddy boots.

For anyone staying at Hoburne Devon Bay or Whitehill Country Park, this is genuinely worth the short drive. It's the sort of place that reminds you why people move to Devon, rather than the postcard version of it. Pair it with a coastal walk somewhere along the bay and you've got a proper day sorted.