Ash Priors Local Nature Reserve

Four miles south of Taunton sits Ash Priors, a quietly understated local nature reserve that rewards the kind of visitor who actually enjoys a proper woodland walk without the crowds. It's not going to blow your mind with dramatic vistas or rare species sightings - this is Somerset's gentle side, all damp woodland, scrubby meadows, and the kind of light filtering through oak and hazel that makes you understand why people bang on about English countryside.

The reserve works best for families with children who won't whine after thirty minutes, or keen birdwatchers with binoculars already in hand. You'll find yourself on well-trodden paths threading through mixed woodland where you might spot nuthatches or great spotted woodpeckers if you're lucky. Spring's the real winner here - bluebells carpet the woodland floor and the whole place feels properly alive.

Allow a couple of hours maximum. There's no visitor centre, no cafe, no facilities to speak of - bring your own water and sensible footwear because it gets boggy. It's free, which is exactly what this place should be.

If you're based at Middle Stone Farm Glamping nearby, this is a handy bolt-on for a morning's gentle exercise before heading back for lunch. Don't expect Instagram moments or anything that'll dominate your holiday highlights. But if you want to actually get under the skin of the Somerset landscape rather than just photograph it from a car park, this is the sort of place that does the job properly.