Cotty Copse

The woodland around Cotty Copse, just outside Chard, is the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. It's a proper working forest - nothing manicured or roped off, just trees doing what trees do best. You get decent footpaths threading through, and if you're the type who enjoys spotting birds or just walking without destination, this delivers.

It won't blow your mind if you're expecting some grand vista or heritage experience. What you get instead is quiet. Real quiet. The kind where you can actually hear yourself think, which is increasingly rare around Somerset these days. Walkers with young kids will manage it fine - the paths are manageable rather than challenging, though muddy patches aren't uncommon even after decent weather. Dog owners will appreciate the space to let them off.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Holly Bush is the closest at under three miles, or Dimpsey Shepherd's Hut if you're after something fancier - Cotty Copse works well as a morning outing without needing the car. Not somewhere you'd drive an hour to visit on its own, but absolutely worth an afternoon if you're already in the area. Allow a couple of hours if you're actually walking it properly rather than just poking about for half an hour.

Access and facilities are basic - as they should be, honestly. There's no café, no visitor centre, just forest. Which is rather the point.