Bircham Wood

Walk into Bircham Wood and you're immediately swallowed by proper woodland - ancient oaks, tangled undergrowth, the whole lot. It's a genuine working forest near Holford in Somerset, not some manicured tourist attraction with visitor centres and gift shops. The paths wind through dense tree cover, and on a grey day it feels genuinely atmospheric. On a sunny one, the dappled light through the canopy is lovely.

This is walker territory, really. The trails aren't massively challenging, but they're real forest paths - sometimes muddy, occasionally a bit overgrown - which means you won't find families with buggies or groups of school trips. That's rather the point. If you're after a quiet stretch of woodland away from the noise, this delivers. Allow a couple of hours to wander without rushing, or you can do a quick 45-minute loop if you're just filling a morning.

It's free to access, which is brilliant. The nearest town is Holford, a small village that won't keep you occupied for long. But if you're staying at one of the local holiday parks - Moorhouse Campsite is closest at just over 2 miles, or Haven Doniford Bay is a shade further at 3.6 miles - Bircham Wood makes a straightforward addition to a park-based holiday. Pair it with a coastal walk elsewhere in Exmoor and you've got decent weather-proof options.

Wear decent boots. Phone signal is patchy at best.