Steart Wood

Steart Wood sits just outside Bideford, a proper woodland walk if you're after a break from the North Devon coast. It's a genuine forest - the kind with actual trees rather than a manicured park - so you get that sense of being somewhere a bit wild without needing climbing gear or a survival kit.

You're walking through established woodland here, nothing too demanding. It's the sort of place where you might spot deer if you're quiet enough, and the canopy does a good job of keeping things cool even on warm days. The walk takes about an hour depending on your pace and which routes you pick - there's enough woodland to nose about in without it becoming a full afternoon commitment.

Families with older kids will get more from it than parents with toddlers in buggies, if I'm honest. It's not heavily signposted or manicured, which is partly its charm but also means you need to pay attention. Dog walkers absolutely love the place.

If you're based at one of the nearby camps - Roeys Retreat or Broad Park are only a few miles away - this makes a decent morning sortie before heading to the beaches or exploring Bideford itself. It's free to access and there's rarely a crowd, which means you'll actually hear the birds instead of other visitors. Worth a detour if you're staying locally, though don't expect facilities or a visitor centre. Come prepared.