Mutley Park

The moment you step into Mutley Park on Plymouth's outskirts, you're away from the city noise. It's a proper nature reserve, the kind where you actually spot things if you're patient - birds mostly, but also the occasional deer if you time it right. The paths meander through woodland and open grassland, nothing too demanding, though some sections can get boggy after rain so decent boots are a good call.

This is ideal territory for anyone serious about birdwatching or just wanting a couple of hours of greenery without trekking onto Dartmoor itself. Families with young kids will find it manageable, though there's not much in the way of play equipment, so don't expect entertainment beyond the natural sort. The reserve works brilliantly as a half-day addition to a stay at Dartmoor Domes, just five miles away - you get that nature hit without the drive further out onto the moor.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, which is always a bonus. The best time to visit is early morning when wildlife is most active and Plymouth's traffic feels very distant indeed. Allow two to three hours if you're taking the longer loops, or grab an hour if you're just after a quick walk. It's not dramatic or showy - there's no viaduct or famous viewpoint - but that's rather the point. Sometimes a quiet woodland with decent birdlife and space to think is exactly what a holiday needs.