Addlehole Copse

A small woodland tucked into the countryside just outside Exeter, Addlehole Copse isn't the sort of place that'll take your breath away - but that's rather the point. It's a proper local woods, the kind where you actually bump into people walking their dogs on a Saturday morning instead of queuing behind a hundred others on Instagram.

The trees are dense enough to feel like you've stepped away from the suburbs, even though Exeter's practically on your doorstep. Paths wind through naturally, nothing too strenuous, and it's the sort of spot where kids can actually run about without you losing sight of them round a bend. The canopy does its job in summer heat, which matters when you've driven down from the Midlands expecting endless sunshine.

This works best paired with a stay at Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping nearby - four and a half miles away, which is close enough for a morning wander without feeling like you're driving to it. Go mid-week if you can; weekends get busier and you lose the whole point of somewhere this quiet. Allow an hour to ninety minutes, depending on how much you want to proper explore rather than just poke around. Families with restless youngsters will get more from this than serious hikers chasing views - but that honesty is what makes it worth knowing about. It's free, obviously, and there's no nonsense about opening hours. Just turn up.