Western Wood

The forest floor here is soft with decades of pine needles, and the air smells like damp earth and resin. Western Wood sits just outside Crediton and isn't the kind of place you'd stumble across by accident - most people driving through Devon have no idea it's there. It's a proper working woodland, not some manicured attraction with visitor centres or ice cream vans, which is either exactly what you want or a bit disappointing depending on your mood.

Walking through works best. The paths wind between mature conifers and broadleaves, and if you time it right - early morning or late afternoon - you'll have the place almost entirely to yourself. There's something quietly good about that. Kids tend to enjoy the hunt for wildlife and the chance to build dens without anyone telling them off, though it's not going to hold their attention for hours unless they're the exploring type. Most visitors spend between one and two hours here.

The woodland connects well with a broader South West walking holiday. Yeatheridge Farm Caravan Park sits only 5.5 miles away and is highly rated, making Western Wood a logical half-day addition to a longer break in the area. Go in autumn if you can - the light through the trees is worth the slightly muddier paths. Spring's decent too. Summer can feel a bit claustrophobic in the dense sections. Free to walk around, no official opening hours that I'm aware of, though local knowledge suggests you're best off sticking to daylight hours.