Southdown Plantation

The forest floor at Southdown Plantation is thick with pine needles and moss, the kind of soft ground that makes proper walking a genuine pleasure. This woodland sits just outside Exeter, making it an easy escape from the city without feeling like you've driven for hours. You're walking through mixed conifers and broadleaf trees, with enough space between the trunks to actually see where you're going - no impenetrable thicket stuff.

It's the kind of place where an hour passes without you noticing. Families with young kids will get a solid walk out of it, though don't expect play equipment or visitor facilities. What you get instead is quiet, fresh air, and the genuine article - an actual working forest rather than a manicured country park. Dog walkers absolutely love it here.

The location is your real win. With Sunsets & Marshmallows Glamping just half a mile away, you could easily make this part of a relaxed forest break - wake up, walk through Southdown before breakfast, then head back to your bells and whistles. Barley Meadow and Woodland Springs touring parks are also close by if you're caravan or motorhome camping. This isn't a day-tripper destination that'll keep you occupied until teatime, but as a morning walk during a park-based holiday in Devon, it's spot on. Just bring decent footwear - it can get boggy in patches, particularly after rain.