Knightacott Covert

Walk into Knightacott Covert and you're immediately enveloped by proper old Devon woodland - the sort of place where the canopy is so thick you'd swear it's an hour earlier than it actually is. The covert sits inland from Ilfracombe, making it a solid alternative if you've had enough of the coastal crowds and want something quieter without driving halfway across the county.

It's fundamentally a forest walk. Trees, paths, the occasional clearing where light breaks through. Nothing dramatically fancy - no visitor centre, no gift shop, no trumped-up attractions. If you're after a straightforward ramble through woodland with decent shade cover, you'll rate it. Families with young walkers might get an hour or so out of it before cabin fever sets in, depending on the child's tolerance for "just trees". Adults who actually like woods will find it peaceful enough.

The practical side: it appears to be free access, though opening hours aren't exactly advertised anywhere obvious. Best to treat it as a daylight-hours sort of place and go armed with decent shoes - forest floors are mud magnets after rain. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're not doing the full circuit.

Staying at Braddicks Holiday Park or Owl Valley Glamping means you're only 20-odd minutes away, making Knightacott an easy morning detour before hitting the beach or tackling another walk. It won't change your life, but it does the job if you need quiet woodland without the tourist machinery.