Greenscombe Woods

The woodland floor at Greenscombe is soft underfoot - proper spongy stuff that makes you walk quietly without meaning to. This nature reserve near Tavistock spreads across enough acreage to lose the afternoon without feeling rushed, though you won't need more than two hours unless you're the type who stops to identify every bird call.

It's a straightforward woodland walk through Devon terrain. You'll get mixed broadleaf and conifers, the kind of place where light filters through in patches and the air smells like damp earth and decomposing leaves. The paths are well-trodden but not manicured - no tarmac, no signposted loops with interpretation boards. Just trees, birds, and the occasional unexpected clearing.

Walkers come here more than families with small children, simply because there's no playground or visitor centre to anchor a day. That said, keen junior naturalists aged eight upwards will find it absorbing enough. Dog walkers absolutely love it. History buffs probably won't find much - it's about the woodland itself, not some Tudor manor or Roman fort.

Staying at Woodovis Holiday Park or Sunnyside Eco Glamping puts you minutes away, making this a decent addition to a wider Devon break rather than a destination in itself. It's free and unrestricted from what I can gather, though you'll want to check locally before visiting. Go early morning if you want to spot deer, though I'd not bank on it. The reserve punches above its weight for a half-day wander, but it's no Dartmoor.