Rookery

The Rookery is a proper woodland walk just outside Crediton, the sort of place that feels properly ancient before you've even stepped inside. Towering oaks and beeches create a canopy so thick that even on bright days the light comes through in these pale greenish shafts. You'll spot the rooks - obviously - calling from the upper branches, along with jays and woodpigeons. The paths are well-maintained but can get boggy after rain, so decent boots matter.

It's not a destination that'll occupy you for hours, but it's the kind of forest that makes a morning walk genuinely worthwhile. An hour here, maybe 90 minutes if you're taking your time, and you've got yourself a proper woodland experience without needing to trek miles. Families with kids under eight might find it a bit quiet and samey, but anyone who actually enjoys walking will appreciate the silence and the genuine woodland atmosphere.

Practically speaking, there's no charge to access it, and parking is straightforward. Best visited in autumn when the light is softer and the birdsong less relentless, though it's worth a visit any time the weather's been dry. If you're staying at Yeatheridge Farm Caravan Park just six miles away, this makes for an easy morning jaunt before heading elsewhere in Devon. Don't expect facilities or crowds - you're getting genuine woodland on its own terms.