Stoke Wood

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured visitor attraction - Stoke Wood sits just outside Taunton and feels like the kind of place locals know about and outsiders miss. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter and moss, the canopy dense enough that even on bright days you get that lovely dappled light filtering through. There's no visitor centre, no gift shop, no interpretation boards - just trees, paths, and the occasional glimpse of older woodland management where coppicing has created that distinctive multi-stemmed growth.

Walkers will find it worth an hour's ramble at least. The paths are well-trodden enough to follow without getting lost, but it doesn't feel overcooked. Kids under ten might find it a bit samey if you're doing the full circuit, though exploring off the main track (carefully) appeals to that age group's sense of adventure. Birdwatchers should come in spring or early summer when the woodland fills up with migrants.

It's free and open access, which means you can rock up whenever suits. Early morning in autumn, when the light's golden and the ground's carpeted in colour, is genuinely special. Come prepared though - it can get muddy after rain, and the canopy doesn't offer much shelter when weather turns.

If you're staying at Dimpsey Shepherd's Hut Glamping just six miles away, Stoke Wood makes a solid addition to a forest-focused long weekend. It's the antidote to managed attractions - honest woodland that doesn't try to be anything other than itself.