Colestocks Brake

Colestocks Brake is a proper woodland walk tucked away near West Hill in Devon - the sort of place locals know about but most visitors miss entirely. You're wandering through mixed broadleaf forest with decent footpaths that don't require any serious hiking boots, though it can get muddy after rain so wear something with grip.

The trees are the draw here. Ancient oaks and beeches create that cathedral-like canopy that makes you slow down without meaning to. Birds are vocal, especially in spring and early summer. On a quiet weekday you might see nothing but woodland - no tourists, no theme park bustle, just the sound of leaves.

It's ideal if you're basing yourselves at Cuckoo Down Farm Glamping, about four miles away - gives you a morning or afternoon activity that doesn't eat up the whole day. History buffs will appreciate that the brake has been woodland for centuries; walkers will find it meditative rather than challenging. Kids under ten might get restless after an hour unless you make a game of spotting wildlife.

I'd allow two hours if you're going to do it properly - amble rather than march. The site appears to be freely accessible, though you should check before you go given how quiet it keeps itself online. Late spring is when it feels most alive. Best visited midweek when West Hill isn't swarming with day-trippers.