The Rookery

The Rookery is a proper woodland walk just outside Taunton, and if you're after some breathing space between park days, it does the job well enough. You're walking through dense forest on marked trails, the kind of place where the canopy gets genuinely dark even on bright afternoons. Most visitors spend forty minutes to an hour here, though you could stretch it to two if you're the type who stops to identify trees.

It's decent for families with school-age kids who can handle uneven ground - there are roots and the occasional muddy patch - but it's not a pushover route. Older walkers will appreciate the quiet and the chance to actually think without constant commentary. You won't find dramatic viewpoints or much to photograph, which is both its strength and its limitation. It's forest for forest's sake.

The woodland gets busy at weekends, so weekday mornings are infinitely better. There's something about getting the place to yourself that makes the gloom feel atmospheric rather than just, well, gloomy. If you're staying at Waterrow Touring Park nearby, it's an easy drive over and works perfectly as a morning excursion before settling back at the caravan for lunch.

Free access as far as I can tell, no visitor centre or facilities, so bring what you need. The closest proper facilities are back in Taunton itself. Worth the detour if you need woodland therapy; don't expect magic.