Pitt's Plantation

You'll find yourself walking into proper old-growth woodland just a short drive from Kingsbridge, where the trees are tall enough that you forget you're in Devon at all. Pitt's Plantation is straightforward - a forest, nothing more - but that simplicity is rather the point. The canopy here is dense, the paths are quiet, and there's that particular kind of stillness you only get when the trees are doing the talking.

It's a walker's spot, really. No visitor centre, no facilities that I could find, just woodland doing what woodland does best. You can lose a couple of hours wandering the tracks without seeing another soul, which is either brilliant or a bit dull depending on your mood. The ground gets boggy after rain - proper squelchy in places - so come with decent boots. Dog walkers seem to love it, and families with older kids who actually want to walk rather than be entertained will get on fine here. Younger children might find it samey after half an hour.

If you're camping at Wilton Farm (just over a mile away) or Start Bay, this makes a decent morning ramble before heading elsewhere. It's free, as far as I can tell, and you can turn up whenever. Don't expect views or drama. What you get is trees, peace, and the chance to remember what a proper forest feels like. It's honest work, nothing fancy - and for that reason alone, worth the detour if you're staying locally.