Trew Wood

Trew Wood is a proper woodland walk just outside Bideford - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think instead of fighting crowds at the beach. The forest floor is soft underfoot, paths wind through mature trees, and there's enough shade to make a summer afternoon genuinely pleasant rather than a sweat-soaked ordeal.

It's best suited to walkers who want something low-key without too much faffing about. Families with younger kids will find it manageable - nothing too steep or technical - though there's not much in the way of viewpoints or dramatic vistas to keep toddlers entertained for hours. If you've got teenagers or adults who simply want a decent woodland ramble before heading to the coast, it works a treat.

There's no admission charge as far as I can tell, and you can knock out a solid hour here without rushing. The beauty of it is the simplicity - no visitor centre, no gift shop, just trees and quiet.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Roeys Retreat or Atlantic Horizons are both top-rated - Trew Wood makes an easy morning or evening slot before or after your main plans. It slots in nicely with a broader Bideford-area itinerary without demanding much logistical thought. Worth a detour if you're in the neighbourhood and fancy a proper forest walk rather than another cliff-top stroll.