Bottom Park

The River Tavy cuts through Bottom Park with proper conviction, and it's that water that makes the place worth your time. This nature reserve sits just outside Tavistock and feels genuinely wild in places - the kind of spot where you'll actually hear birdsong rather than car horns.

What you're getting is woodland along the riverbank, walking trails that range from dead easy to a bit more demanding, and the chance to spot the occasional dipper or grey wagtail if you're lucky. It's free and open access, which already puts it ahead of half the tourist attractions round here. Most people spend between an hour and three hours depending on how far they fancy walking.

Families with young kids will manage the flatter sections, but older children and walkers will get more from exploring deeper into the reserve. Bring binoculars if you're into birds - that's really where the interest lies. The river itself is lovely to follow, especially in autumn when the water's higher and faster.

If you're staying at Woodovis or Sunnyside just down the road, Bottom Park makes an excellent morning walk before heading elsewhere. It's not dramatic or showy - no waterfalls, no rare plants you'll recognise. But it's genuine Devon countryside, the kind of place locals actually use rather than tourists just photograph. Worth the detour if you like rivers and trees more than Instagram moments.