Sherwood Gardens

The gardens sit just outside Exeter, a proper Victorian setup that catches you off guard if you're expecting grand formality. Instead, what you get is something altogether more intimate - winding paths through woodland, herbaceous borders that actually look like someone tends them rather than just plants things and hopes, and a genuinely quiet afternoon even when the car parks are full elsewhere.

It's worth allowing a solid two hours here if you're not rushing. The layout means you naturally meander rather than tick boxes, which suits families with children who get bored by "educational walks". Older kids might enjoy spotting the different planting zones or the water features tucked away around corners. The woodland paths are fairly gentle, though there are a few steeper sections that'll test your calves on the return leg.

The real strength is how underfussy it all feels compared to National Trust gardens ten miles away. No gift shop theatre, no crowds jostling for Instagram angles - just space to breathe and plants that genuinely interest you if you're into that sort of thing. Spring's obviously the major draw, but even in summer the bones of the place work well.

If you're staying at Sunsets & Marshmallows nearby, this slots easily into a day out without needing to drive far. Close enough for a morning visit before heading elsewhere, far enough to feel like a proper outing rather than your garden next door.