Challowell Wood

Ancient oaks and twisted beech trees create a proper cathedral of greenery just inland from Ilfracombe's coastal bustle. Challowell Wood feels wonderfully wild and untamed - the sort of place where you half expect to stumble upon a fairy ring or hear the rustle of something mythical in the undergrowth.

Families with older children will love the adventure of it all. The paths aren't marked or manicured like some sanitised country parks, which means genuine exploration and the thrill of finding your own way through the dappled light. Younger ones might find the uneven terrain a bit challenging, though.

Walkers seeking a proper woodland ramble away from Devon's tourist trails will find this a cracking alternative to the more obvious coastal paths. The canopy provides welcome shade on hot summer days, making it ideal when the beaches around Woolacombe and Croyde are heaving with visitors.

Since it's just a short drive from several holiday parks including Woolacombe Sands and Golden Coast, it makes for a lovely change of pace from seaside activities. Pack a thermos and some sandwiches - there's something deeply satisfying about finding a fallen log to perch on while listening to birdsong filter through the leaves. Allow a good couple of hours to properly lose yourself among the trees.