Ham Woods Local Nature Reserve

Walking into Ham Woods feels like stepping into someone's secret. It's a proper woodland reserve just outside Plymouth, the sort of place locals know about and visitors somehow miss. The paths wind through mixed broadleaf woodland - oak, ash, hazel - with patches of open ground that let light flood through in a way that makes you actually stop and look around rather than just trudge on.

This is fundamentally a walker's spot. The trails are straightforward enough - nothing technical, no scrambling - but they reward you with birdsong and the occasional glimpse of woodland birds if you're lucky. It's not vast, so you won't spend all day here, but it's the sort of reserve that's brilliant for a couple of hours when you want to stretch your legs without faffing about with maps.

Families with younger kids will find it manageable, though don't expect dramatic views or major attractions. It's quiet, which is either its best feature or its biggest limitation depending on what you're after. The paths can be muddy after rain - standard woodland stuff - so bring proper footwear.

If you're based at Dartmoor Domes nearby, it's an easy detour. Combine it with time on Dartmoor itself, which offers more drama and space to roam. Ham Woods works as a gentle warm-up walk or a change of pace from moor hiking. Admission appears to be free, which is exactly what a local nature reserve should be. Best visited when the woodland canopy's full but not oppressively hot - late spring through early autumn works perfectly.