Patcott Wood

The woodland around Patcott stretches out quiet and proper green, the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a working forest rather than some manicured visitor attraction, which means the paths are genuine and sometimes a bit muddy underfoot, but that's half the appeal.

You'll find decent walking here - nothing extreme, just straightforward rambles through mixed woodland with enough variation to keep you interested. The trees are tall enough to make you feel properly away from it all, and there's that particular Devon damp that brings everything to life. Walkers will get the most from Patcott; it's not really a sit-down-and-have-a-picnic sort of spot, and you won't find much in the way of interpretation boards or facilities.

The nearest substantial town is Tiverton, a few miles off, which makes this a realistic half-day loop from a base in the area. If you're staying at somewhere like Nirvana Glamping nearby, you could easily squeeze a morning walk here without needing to travel far. Allow a couple of hours depending on how lost you want to get in the trees.

There's no fanfare about admission or opening times here - it just exists as woodland does. Go when the mood takes you, really. It won't be your main event on a Devon holiday, but it fills a gap nicely if you want proper woodland walking without the crowds or the gift shop.