Townstal Hill Wood

The woodland at Townstal Hill isn't dramatic or famous, but it's a proper walk through Devon woodland that rewards you if you're willing to get your boots muddy. Nothing fancy - just beech and oak doing what they do best, with the sort of undergrowth that feels properly wild without being inaccessible. You're looking at a few hours here depending on how lost you fancy getting, though most people manage the main paths in ninety minutes without breaking a sweat.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's the kind of place you come for thinking time rather than photo opportunities, though the canopy in late summer is lovely enough. Families with older kids won't complain, but if you've got toddlers expecting themed trails and benches every fifty metres, look elsewhere. The terrain is genuinely mixed - some proper climbs, roots everywhere, the works.

Pargnton's your nearest town if you need a café or supplies beforehand. There's the Start Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite a few miles out if you're basing yourself in the area for a proper park holiday. Combine it with Dart Valley for a decent few days' walking in this corner of Devon.

Best visited outside school holidays if you want any peace. Spring's probably the move - bluebells if you time it right, fewer groups clogging the paths. No facilities to speak of, so bring water and don't assume your phone will work in there.