Milford Wood

Walking into Milford Wood feels like stepping back about fifty years. The trees crowd in thick and dark - oak and ash mostly - and the path narrows until you're genuinely alone with the birdsong. It's the kind of forest that makes you understand why people used to find them unsettling.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is either brilliant or annoying depending on your mood. You get woodland as it actually is, not as a theme park version of itself. The walking is straightforward enough - tracks wind through without requiring serious navigation skills - and there are spots where you can sit and properly think. An hour will cover the main paths without rush.

This works best for actual walkers rather than families after a quick diversion. Young kids might find it dull after twenty minutes, though teenagers who aren't glued to phones tend to enjoy the quietness. Bideford sits just a few miles away if you need supplies or a proper meal after.

If you're camping at Coastal Cabins Glamping or Atlantic Horizons nearby, Milford Wood makes a solid morning outing - nothing fancy, just honest forest. It pairs well with the coast itself, which you'll want to visit anyway. Go when it's not raining or you'll be wading, and wear proper boots rather than trainers. Free access, no time limit, no queues. Refreshingly ungimmicky.