Long Sutton Plantation

The woodland at Long Sutton feels properly isolated, which is exactly why it works. You get mature trees, decent paths threading through, and the sort of quiet that makes you realise how little of it exists near anywhere else in Somerset. It's not dramatic or famous - no waterfall, no viewpoint that'll stop you dead - but that's rather the point.

This is walker territory, first and foremost. The paths are straightforward enough that families with older kids won't struggle, though it's not a destination for pushchairs or toddlers after five minutes. Give yourself an hour minimum, longer if you're the type to actually look at what's growing. Spring is decent for bluebells, though by August the canopy gets thick and dark. The plantation sits just outside Langport, making it an easy add-on if you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Thorney Lakes is only three miles away, so a morning walk before breakfast isn't impossible.

Free to access, obviously - there's no gatehouse or visitor centre, just woodland. Go early if the weather's decent, because once word spreads among local dog walkers, you'll share the paths. Worth a detour if you're already in the area and need some forest air. Don't expect it to be the highlight of your week, but it does the job. The sort of place that reminds you why people rate Somerset for a quiet break.