Fairy Cave

The walk down to Fairy Cave near Mells is half the charm. You're threading through woodland that feels properly ancient, roots and damp earth underfoot, until suddenly the hillside opens up and there's this modest cave mouth cut into the limestone. It's not vast or dramatic - more of a cleft than a cavern - but that's rather the point. The light hits the entrance in this particular way that makes you understand why Victorians were so obsessed with romantic grotto moments.

Once inside, the cave itself is small enough that you can take it in within ten minutes, though lingering longer won't hurt. There's a stream running through it, and in wet weather the whole thing becomes genuinely atmospheric. History types will appreciate that this has been known about since at least medieval times, and the name comes from the folk tales that accumulated around it rather than anything you'll see carved into the walls.

It's ideal for families who like a bit of woodland rambling without committing to a full fell walk. Kids seem to enjoy the mild adventure of it - there's something about crawling into a cave that appeals, even if it's only a few metres deep. Allow an hour return from the road, including cave time.

If you're staying at Glamping on the Hill nearby, this makes a decent afternoon sortie. Don't expect something of Wookey Hole proportions though. Fairy Cave is genuinely minor as attractions go, but it rewards the effort if you're in the area and fancy something different from the usual Somerset heritage circuit.