Mountbatten Park

The walk into Mountbatten Park from Honiton takes you through proper Devon countryside - rolling fields giving way to woodland that feels genuinely wild for a nature reserve so close to town. Once you're in, the place sprawls across enough ground that you won't feel crowded even on weekends.

It's a working nature reserve, so what you'll see depends entirely on the season and how observant you are. Spring brings migrating birds and a mad amount of wildflowers. Summer's quieter but the trees provide decent shade on a hot day. Autumn's when the serious birdwatchers descend - blackcaps, warblers, the lot. Winter's frankly bleak unless you're into skeletal landscapes and spotting overwintering species.

The trails themselves aren't challenging - mostly gentle enough for families with kids, though you'll want proper walking boots if it's been wet. Allow two to three hours if you want to do the full loop without rushing, or forty minutes if you're just after a quick stomp.

For a longer holiday based at Hartridge Springs Spa Glamping just down the road, this works as a proper morning activity rather than an all-day thing. It's free, which helps justify the trip if you're not expecting dramatic vistas - this is naturalist territory, not Instagram spot. Go early if you want to spot anything alive. By mid-afternoon the woodland falls quiet.