Northern Wood

Walk into Northern Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper Somerset woodland - tall pines, leafy oaks, the lot. It's the kind of place where the canopy thickens above you within five minutes and you genuinely lose track of the main road back towards Taunton. The forest floor is soft with needles and moss, and there's enough shade that even on a warm day you'll feel the cool seep through.

This is walkers' territory, no question about it. The trails are straightforward enough that families with older kids won't struggle, but it's definitely more interesting if you actually want to walk rather than just poke about for twenty minutes. Allow a good hour or two if you're serious about exploring - the wood's substantial enough that you won't feel like you've rushed it. Bring wellies if it's been wet; parts can turn boggy quickly.

It costs nothing to get in and works brilliantly as a morning or afternoon excursion if you're based at one of the local farms like Middle Stone Farm Glamping or Waterrow Touring Park. The combination of a proper forest walk followed by a lazy afternoon back at your accommodation hits the spot for families wanting a proper Somerset break without driving halfway across the county. Not Instagram-worthy, but genuinely good for clearing your head.