Barn Close Copse

A proper woodland walk rather than a destination in itself, Barn Close Copse sits just outside Crewkerne and offers the kind of quiet forest ramble you'll stumble upon by accident and be glad you did. Ancient trees, dappled shade, and the smell of damp earth - it's nothing fancy, but that's rather the point.

The copse works best as part of a broader walking loop around the Somerset-Dorset border rather than a standalone trip. You're looking at a decent stride through mixed woodland, the sort of place where kids can actually run ahead without disappearing entirely. Muddy in winter, muggy in summer, and absolutely lovely on a crisp autumn morning when the light cuts through the canopy properly.

Bing honest, there's no café, no visitor centre, no interpretation boards telling you what you're looking at. You'll need to know roughly where you're going or be happy getting slightly lost. That said, if you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Esme's Escape or Swallowfield are within a few miles - it's worth the short drive for a proper leg-stretcher.

Allow a couple of hours depending on your pace. Families with younger children might find it less gripping than, say, a theme park, but if you've got kids who like splashing through streams and poking at interesting fungi, they'll be occupied. Peak season doesn't really apply here - go when the weather suits you and the forest will be yours.