Staple Dogs Run Free

The name alone intrigues you - Staple Dogs Run Free, somewhere on the Somerset Levels just outside Taunton. It's one of those local landmarks that doesn't shout about itself, the kind of place you stumble across on an OS map and think, right, what's this then?

What you're looking at is a working piece of Somerset heritage tied to the area's agricultural past. The Levels have their own particular character - flat, open, windswept in places - and this spot captures something of that. It's not a grand visitor attraction with facilities and a gift shop. This is more about understanding how the land worked and what those old dog names tell us about rural life.

Walkers will get the most from it, particularly those doing longer routes across the Levels or connecting between nearby parks like Ashe Farm Caravan and Camping Site or Cornish Farm Touring Park. It's the kind of thing you'd build into a morning ramble rather than visit as a standalone day out. Kids might find it interesting if they're already into local history or farming, but don't expect them to stay entertained for hours.

There's no charge as far as anyone knows, and you can access it on foot or by car depending on where the actual landmark sits. Spring and early summer are probably best - the Levels flood regularly come winter, and the open ground can be bleak in poor weather.

If you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks for a week, this works as a quick detour on a longer walk. Worth the effort if you're curious about how Somerset ticks, less worthwhile if you're after a proper tourist experience.