National Trust - Hembury and Holne Woods

The woodland around Hembury and Holne feels properly wild - ancient beech and oak rising up steep valley sides, with the River Dart running through the bottom like it's been carving this place out for millennia. You're looking at old growth that's been managed by the National Trust, which means the walking is sorted and the paths are decent underfoot, though they do get boggy after rain.

This isn't a sit-on-a-bench spot. It's for people who actually want to walk. The terrain is hilly - fair warning - and you'll easily lose an hour or two following the riverside trails and exploring different sections. The woodland itself is the draw rather than any single viewpoint. Ferns, moss-covered logs, the occasional bridge across tributaries. In spring it's carpeted with bluebells. Autumn turns it into something properly impressive with the light coming through the changing canopy.

Practically speaking, it's free to access and there's parking nearby, though space can be tight on weekends. Allow a good two to three hours if you want to do it justice. It works brilliantly as a proper walking day if you're based at Ashbourne Woods, only a few miles away near South Brent. The park itself would be a comfortable home base - you can do this woodland walk, then head out to explore other parts of Dartmoor from there.

The only downside is it can feel a bit damp and enclosed if the weather turns. But that's Devon woodland for you. Go when it's dry and it's excellent.