Babcary Copse

The woods around Babcary, just outside Yeovil, are proper lovely for a quick woodland walk if you're staying at Long Hazel Park and fancy stretching your legs without going far. It's not a massive destination - you're looking at a small copse with the usual Somerset mix of oak, ash and undergrowth rather than anything dramatic. What makes it worth the detour is how accessible it is. The paths are straightforward, none of that ankle-twisting nonsense you get in some woods, and it's genuinely quiet even in summer.

Walkers will get the most from Babcary Copse. It's ideal for a ramble between one and two hours, depending on how many times you stop to look at things. Families with young kids can manage it fine on a dry day - the muddy bits aren't too testing. In autumn it's rather atmospheric, all the leaves doing their thing, though spring's when it feels most alive.

The nearest town is Yeovil, which sits about four miles south, so if you're staying in the area you've got other bits to explore too. Don't expect towering trees or dramatic vistas. Go for the quietness, the green, the chance to actually hear yourself think. It's the sort of place you pop into between other plans, not the sort you book a day around. But if you're camping at Long Hazel and the weather's decent, it beats sitting in the caravan.