Aldridge Mill Plantation

The woodland here feels properly wild - dense canopy, dappled light filtering through as you push deeper in, the sort of place where you can actually lose yourself for a few hours. Aldridge Mill Plantation sits just outside Tiverton and works as a genuine forest walk rather than a manicured visitor attraction. You're walking through what feels like proper Devon woodland, the kind you'd expect if you stumbled off a country lane and kept going.

It's ideal if you want to shake off the kids for an afternoon or just need some headspace - no crowds, no entry fees ringing alarm bells, just trees and paths. The paths wind through in sensible loops so you can tailor it to your energy levels. Bring decent boots though. After rain the ground's muddy enough that trainers become a liability.

This works brilliantly as a morning or late-afternoon slot if you're staying at somewhere like Nirvana Glamping nearby. You're not talking a full day here - three or four hours maximum for most people - but it breaks up a park holiday without requiring advance planning. The walk appeals to adults more than restless young children; teenagers who can handle a proper forest ramble will be fine.

There's genuine peace here, which honestly feels rarer every year. It's the sort of place you find partly by accident and end up recommending to mates. Not dramatic, not Instagram-ready, just proper woodland. Worth the detour if you're in the area and fancy something genuine.