The Garden House

You'll find yourself walking into eight acres of genuine woodland garden on the outskirts of Tavistock - this isn't a formal affair with clipped hedges and manicured lawns. The Garden House is what happens when plantsfolk stop playing it safe. Started in the 1980s and developed over decades, it's become a serious plant collector's destination, though you don't need to know a clematis from a peony to enjoy it.

What you're actually doing is wandering through woodland paths, past streams, into clearings where unusual specimen trees and shrubs have been planted with real thoughtfulness. There are quiet corners where you can properly sit and breathe. If you're into plants, you'll spend hours identifying things. If you're not, it's still a lovely few hours of gentle exploration - the kind of place where you naturally slow down.

It's best for adults and older children who'll appreciate the horticultural detail. Toddlers might find it a bit samey, and the woodland terrain isn't buggy-friendly. Open from March through October, 10:30 to 5pm. Check their website for current admission charges and seasonal hours.

Stay at Langstone Manor or Woodovis - both just four to five miles away - and you've got a peaceful half-day visit that complements longer Dartmoor hikes nicely. Go midweek if you can. It gets busy weekends, and frankly, the whole point of this place is solitude.