Higher Field Plantation

You'll find yourself walking through proper dense woodland on the edge of Plymouth, which is a rare thing when you're this close to a city. Higher Field Plantation is exactly what it says - a working forest where the trees tower up and actually block out the noise from below. It's all Scots pine and Douglas fir, with the kind of floor that's soft underfoot from decades of needles.

The main draw here is the walking. There are paths threading through, nothing too ambitious, and the light comes through the canopy in that silvery way that makes you feel like you're somewhere more remote than you actually are. Bring the family if they're happy to amble - kids under eight might find it a bit samey after twenty minutes, but teenagers and serious walkers will appreciate the quiet. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I'm aware of, so plan accordingly. Go on a dry day; the paths get boggy otherwise.

It works perfectly as a morning walk if you're based at Hidden Hill Devon, just up the road, or a useful stretch of the legs between coastal trips. South Devon Camping over at Lower Terawhiti Farm is further out but worth considering for the campsite alone. Higher Field isn't going to be your main event - it's a proper working forest, not a manicured attraction - but that's exactly why it's worth the detour. You get to walk among actual trees doing their job, which beats most of what's on offer closer to town.