Oldwood

The woodland around Oldwood offers a proper escape if you're staying in the Wedmore area, though it's more of a quiet walk than a destination that'll eat up half your day. The trees here are mature and decent enough for stretching your legs, but don't expect dramatic vistas or anything that'll make you gasp. It's the sort of place locals know about and tourists stumble into by accident.

You'll get the most out of it if you're already camped at Castle Farm Campsite just under a mile away, or one of the other sites dotted round the Somerset levels. Kids won't get bored for an hour or so, especially if you make it a hunt for woodland creatures, but they'll want more after that. Walkers breaking up a longer route through the area will find it useful rather than thrilling.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which means it's genuinely free and unspoilt, but also that you need to sort yourself out before you arrive. An hour's wander is realistic unless you're really lingering over every moss-covered log. Best in autumn when the light does something decent, or after rain when the paths are interesting without being treacherous.

The real charm here is that it's low-key. No car parks, no information boards telling you what tree you're looking at. If you're doing a camping holiday round the levels and want a morning walk that doesn't require a drive, this works. Just don't expect it to compete with what you'll find in Exmoor or the Quantocks.