Woodhouse Hill

The walk up to Woodhouse Hill rewards you with views across the Sid Valley that make the climb worthwhile. From Sidmouth, it's an easy ramble inland - nothing too strenuous, but enough of a pull to feel like you've earned the vista at the top.

What you get here is essentially a proper vantage point over the red cliffs and rolling Devon countryside that backs the coast. On a clear day you can see well beyond Sidmouth's seafront towards the broader stretch of the South Devon shoreline. The summit itself is more working landscape than manicured viewpoint - there's farmland around, and you're sharing the hilltop with actual farming business, but that's part of its appeal. No crowds, no car park, no tat.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's the sort of walk where you loop back down a different path, and the whole thing takes maybe two hours depending on your pace and how many stops you make to take photos. Families with young kids might find the climb a bit much for little legs, though there's nothing technically difficult about it.

If you're staying at Oakdown or Beer Head Holiday Park, this is a solid way to spend a morning without heading miles away from base. It connects well with other walks in the area, so you can easily build a day around exploring the valley footpaths. Best visited when the weather's decent - fog rolls in from the coast regularly enough to kill the views completely.