One minute you are strolling across tame, flat fields above Drewsteignton; the next, you are gaping straight into the abyss of the Teign Gorge. It is one of the great surprises of the Westcountry—vertiginous woodland plunging towards the rushing river below, with the granite battlements of Castle Drogo standing sentinel against the high moors of Dartmoor.

When summer heatwaves strike, the South West offers a hidden refuge. From ancient, damp sunken lanes and breezy upland ridges to shady coastal paths, deep forests, and steep river gorges, discover four classic West Country landscapes where you can find cool relief from the blazing sun.