Forgotten Hallsands 

The forgotten village of Hallsands on the South Devon coast is a place that will inspire intrigue and awe. Once a thriving fishing village home to 150 inhabitants, the village succumbed to rising sea levels in 1917 when villagers were forced to flee. Visible from a viewing platform from the cliffs, the few houses left at Hallsands stand as ghostly remains awaiting the return of the sea. 

White Lady Waterfall

One of the county’s most spectacular natural features, Lydford Gorge is the deepest gorge in the South West, carved over thousands of years from the force of the River Lyd. Once a refuge for the legendary Roger Rowle – dubbed the Robin Hood of the West – and his men, these days the gorge’s most spectacular inhabitant comes in the form of a 100-feet-high waterfall called the White Lady. 

Sharrah Pool

Hidden within the trees, Sharrah Pool is another of Devon’s secret gems laying off the beaten track. Found following a 2-mile hike through Holne Woods, it comprises a deep, glassy pool formed within a wide section of the River Dart. Overhung by ancient trees and decorated with granite boulders perfect for lounging in the sun, it is a real haven for wild bathers and a gorgeous destination on a tranquil summer’s day. There is even a small waterfall further upstream to add to the magic.

Exeter’s Underground Passages

It’s little wonder why the underground passages of Exeter are the source of such fascination, associated as they are with stories of war, sieges, plague and spooky activity. In reality though, the passages actually have their origins in Medieval history when they were created to carry clean drinking water into the city from natural springs. Revealing the secrets of the city’s underbelly, guided tours of the passages have been taking place here since the 1930s.

Wistman's Wood

The enchanting Wistman’s Wood is the remnants of an ancient forest belt that once covered Dartmoor from around 7000BC. While much of the forest was destroyed over the following centuries, this pocket of proud old oaks has survived the years. Believed to be home to trees as old as 500 years, Wistman’s Wood radiates an ethereal quality and was one of the reasons why Dartmoor was designated as a Special Area of Conservation.

Crazywell Pool

Shrouded in myth, Crazywell Pool has been the subject of much speculation over the years. For a long time, it was even believed to be boundlessly deep, after locals in the 1800s dropped 90 fathoms of rope into the pool and still couldn’t find the bottom. If you manage to find the pool today, you may be surprised to see that it is now a popular spot amongst local wild swimmers and sometimes hosts a pop-up lido.