Haldon Forest Park - Forestry England

The hills west of Exeter rise up sharply, and Haldon Forest Park sits right there on that ridge - proper wild country compared to what you'd expect so close to the city. Forestry England runs the place, and it's genuinely free to wander. You get conifer plantations stretching across red sandstone hills, miles of walking trails ranging from gentle loops to decent hikes, and if you time it right, views back towards Dartmoor. The forest café does decent coffee and cake, which matters after an hour of climbing.

Walkers will get the most out of this. It's not a stroll-round-for-forty-minutes job - you need proper boots and a couple of hours minimum to do it justice. Kids enjoy it too, especially if they're into climbing trees and spotting the occasional bit of wildlife, though frankly some of the paths are a bit relentless underfoot. History buffs might find it less rewarding; it's working forestry rather than heritage.

The real draw is how quickly you escape Exeter's sprawl. Within minutes of leaving the café, you're genuinely isolated under thick conifers. The red sandstone quarries dotted about add interest - they're old but not in any way polished up for tourists. If you're staying at Devon Heaven Hideaways or Cofton Holidays, Haldon makes an excellent half-day break from the park. Oakmoor's closer still at just over 5 miles. Go midweek if possible; weekends get busy with local runners and families.