Blannicombe Plantation

Walking into Blannicombe Plantation feels like stepping off the Devon coast and straight into proper woodland. This is conifer forest - tall, dense, the kind of place where the light filters green through the canopy and the air smells of pine and earth.

You're looking at a mix of planted forestry and natural woodland that covers a decent patch of land. The trees tower overhead, which kids find impressive for about twenty minutes before the sameness starts to wear on them. For walkers though, especially those who've spent days on clifftops near Sidmouth, it's a genuine change of pace. The forest tracks are easy enough to follow, muddy in places, and there's proper quiet here - the kind you don't get on the South West Coast Path.

This is best visited on a clear day. Overcast and wet, and you'll feel the gloom closing in rather quickly. Bring proper shoes because puddles pool deep in the lower sections, and the ground stays boggy long after rain. An hour to ninety minutes is enough to get a feel for it without things getting repetitive.

It works well as a stop-off between the beaches and the inland valleys if you're basing yourself at Oakdown or Hartridge Springs. Not a destination in itself, but a proper break from coastal walking if that's your thing. Free to wander, naturally - it's just woodland - which is always a bonus.