Oldrigde Wood

The woodland around Oldridge sits just outside Tiverton, and it's exactly the kind of place where an hour can stretch into three without you noticing. Ancient trees, good paths, proper quiet - no theme park nonsense, just forest. You'll find yourself walking under canopy so thick it stays cool even on warm days, with the sort of floor that's soft underfoot from years of leaf fall.

It works best for walkers and anyone after a genuine bit of peace. Families with kids will have them occupied spotting wildlife and jumping over streams, though restless teenagers might feel it's a bit slow. The paths are straightforward enough that you won't need a map, but bring waterproofs anyway - Devon woodland stays damp longer than you'd expect.

There's no visitor centre or facilities here that I'm aware of, so come prepared. An hour is the bare minimum if you actually want to breathe the place in; two hours and you'll have covered most of it without rushing. Spring's lovely when everything's growing back, but honestly, it's good any time except deep winter when the mud becomes genuinely treacherous.

If you're staying at Nirvana Glamping nearby, this is an easy morning walk before heading somewhere else - it's close enough that you won't waste half your day driving. The woodland's free to access and feels properly Devon - which is to say, a bit wild and genuinely atmospheric without being packaged up for tourists.