East Huntspill

Flat, fertile farmland stretches endlessly here - the kind of Somerset landscape that feels proper remote even though you're only 15 minutes from the M5. East Huntspill sits quietly in this corner of the county, where drainage channels carve geometric patterns through fields and the horizon seems impossibly wide.

The Huntspill River winds through the village, though calling it a river is generous - it's more of a glorified drainage ditch that's part of the ancient system keeping this low-lying land from flooding. All Saints church anchors the settlement with typical Somerset tower stonework, while the village itself has that slightly abandoned weekday feel common to rural communities.

Wall Eden Adventure has put this sleepy spot on the map for families seeking outdoor thrills. Their adventure centre offers kayaking and canoeing on local waterways, plus the increasingly popular axe throwing - because apparently hurling sharp objects at wood is what passes for entertainment these days. Fair enough though; the setting's lovely.

Middlemoor Water Park nearby provides gentler water-based activities, while the famous Willow Man sculpture - that towering wicker figure visible from the M5 - stands sentinel over the surrounding Somerset Levels. It's become something of a landmark, though purists argue it's a bit gaudy for such timeless countryside.

Getting here requires determination. The nearest proper town is Burnham-on-Sea, about four miles west, which has the train station and main shops. From there, it's country lanes all the way - the sort where you'll meet tractors and have to reverse to passing places.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense for exploring this forgotten corner of Somerset. You're close enough to the coast for beach days at Burnham, yet properly in the countryside for that escape-from-it-all feeling. The surrounding Somerset Levels offer fantastic walking and cycling once you've found your bearings.