Chapple Wood

The woods near Tiverton have that particular Devon dampness about them - moss thick on every trunk, ferns unfurling like they own the place. Chapple Wood is proper woodland, the kind where you can actually get lost if you're not paying attention, which is precisely why it's worth a visit.

It's a straightforward forest walk rather than a marked tourist attraction. You're looking at mixed woodland with decent paths that wind through beech and oak, the sort of place where children actually want to explore rather than complain about the distance. Walkers will appreciate the peaceful quality of it, especially outside school holidays when the place feels genuinely quiet. On a grey Devon afternoon - and there are plenty of those - the light filters through the canopy in a way that feels properly atmospheric without being Instagrammable.

Allow a couple of hours if you're taking your time, less if you just want a quick ramble. There's no admission fee that I'm aware of, though it's the kind of place where you should respect the land. Best visited after dry weather if you're not keen on mud, though the woodland floor drains reasonably well.

If you're staying at Waterrow Touring Park or Nirvana Glamping nearby, this slots in nicely as a morning walk before heading into Tiverton proper. It's not dramatic or famous, but it's the sort of Devon woodland that reminds you why people actually want to spend time in nature rather than just photograph it.