RSPB Swell Wood

The RSPB reserve at Swell Wood sits just outside Taunton and is exactly the sort of place you'll either love immediately or wonder why you've bothered. It's a proper woodland site - mixed broadleaf trees, open glades, the works - and if you're into birds, particularly woodland species like nuthatches and treecreepers, you'll find plenty to occupy you with binoculars and a notebook.

The real draw here is the quiet. You won't find crowds or manicured trails with interpretation boards at every turn. It's a working nature reserve run by the RSPB, which means it's managed for wildlife first and visitors second. There are walking routes through the wood, though you'll need to check the current access arrangements when you visit as these can change seasonally during breeding season.

Families with young kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless they're genuinely keen on birdwatching - there's no visitor centre, no facilities that I'm aware of, and a two-year-old will probably get bored after thirty minutes. Adults who like a gentle woodland walk and the chance to spot something wild, though, will get on fine here.

It works well as a break between Thorney Lakes or Ashe Farm if you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby. Twenty minutes' walk, fresh air, no entrance fee as far as I can tell. Not a destination in itself, but a solid addition to a Somerset levels holiday if you've got time to kill and you don't mind not knowing exactly what you'll see.