Fifteen minutes from Exeter and we’re all squashed inside the car debating a possible move back to London. But as we begin tunnelling through the trees and dappled light of the Teign Valley, we’re drawn by the familiar brown sign of Canonteign Falls.

We’re greeted by a lovely lady in the craft shop who tells us that dogs are most welcome and that our children will love the large rabbits. Then after a lengthy spell of up and over the chunky play equipment, we head for the summit of the highest manmade waterfall in England.

It’s a bit like entering a new world. Leaving the sunshine behind, walking curiously beneath the thick trees, hearing the first sounds of water, feeling the misty spray on our eyes and glimpsing the mirrored streak of crystal falling in front of an English jungle backdrop.

We journey on adventurously, weaving our way up through the tinder woods towards the hidden summit, scampering through the secret garden and up the Victorian steps.

Then suddenly we enter a tropical bubble. A natural bio dome where the crystal cold water falls. A bit further up, the stream narrows and we jump over to the other side, racing the water back down through the woods as it heads to its leap over the edge. At Buzzard’s View we breathlessly look beyond the waterfall out over the most stunning Devonshire countryside.

On we go, descending until we finally find our earth feet once more in a bee buzzing meadow; feeling tired, fulfilled and grounded, like we’ve conquered a mountain.

Images courtesy of Goff63 on Flickr