Wiveliscombe Roman Auxiliary Fort

The remains of a Roman fort sit quietly on the edge of Wiveliscombe, a small Somerset market town south of Taunton. There's not much left to look at - mostly earthworks and the odd bit of masonry if you know where to find it - but that's rather the point. This was a genuine military installation from around AD 70-90, built to keep watch over the local population and protect the road to Exeter. The fort's outline is still readable in the landscape if you're willing to spend twenty minutes walking around the site and using a bit of imagination.

It's not a destination in itself, to be honest. You won't find interpretation boards or a visitor centre. What you get is a genuine archaeological site with the kind of authentic emptiness that appeals to history buffs and anyone who likes puzzling out what they're looking at from the contours of the land. Kids might manage ten minutes before asking why there's nothing to see.

The real value is if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Middle Stone Farm Glamping or Waterrow Touring Park are both close enough - and you want to add some substance to a Somerset holiday. Taunton's only four miles away, which means you can combine this with the town's museums if you want proper Roman finds and context. The fort itself costs nothing to visit and you can wander the site at will. Best done on a clear day when you can actually see the earthworks from different angles. Go in the morning when the light's low - it makes the contours show up properly.