Withing Wood

Walk into Withing Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper tall trees - the kind that make you crane your neck and feel about half your actual height. It's a straightforward woodland walk near Holford, nothing flashy, but that's rather the point. The paths are well-trodden and manageable, threading through beech and oak with enough dappled light to keep things from feeling claustrophobic even on grey days.

This is ideal territory for families who want their kids to burn off energy without needing a full day's expedition. You're looking at anything from a quick thirty-minute ramble to a couple of hours depending on which routes you fancy - there's genuine flexibility here. The wood feels genuinely quiet, which makes a nice change from the honeypot spots. Early autumn is particularly lovely when the light turns golden and the floor's carpet of leaves softens every footfall.

If you're staying at Haven Doniford Bay Holiday Park just four miles away, Withing Wood works perfectly as a morning walk before heading elsewhere. It won't take up your whole day, which means you can pair it with the Quantock Hills or a coastal run to Watchet without overcommitting. Free to access, no admission fee mucking about - you just turn up and get walking. Bring decent boots if it's been wet; the ground holds moisture and turns boggy in patches. Dogs love it, children find it mysterious enough to stay engaged, and if you're simply after a bit of forest air without the crowds, this delivers.