Barrow Wood

Walk into Barrow Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper woodland - the kind where the canopy is thick enough that you lose track of time. It's a forest rather than a manicured country estate, with paths winding through mature trees and enough shade to keep things cool even on warm days.

The wood sits just outside Mells, a small Somerset village with a decent pub and some decent shops if you need supplies before heading in. It's not a destination that'll take all day - more like a solid couple of hours of walking if you're taking it slowly - but that's partly its charm. You're not queuing or competing for space. Families with school-age kids will get more out of it than toddlers; there's nothing specific laid on, just good footpaths and trees.

If you're camped at Glamping on the Hill or the Longleat Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, both nearby, Barrow Wood makes an easy morning or afternoon outing without driving anywhere far. The bigger attraction at Longleat is worth the trip if you're after more structured activities - the safari park and house are proper draws - but on a quieter day, the wood itself is where locals go when they want to escape without fuss.

Free to access, naturally. Go early if possible; afternoon light through the trees is lovely, but mornings are quieter. Wear decent boots - it can get muddy even days after rain.