Cartgate Picnic Area

You won't find much fuss at Cartgate - just a straightforward lay-by with picnic tables where locals pull in for a break on the way through Somerset. It's close enough to Crewkerne that you could easily slot it into a morning or afternoon outing, but honest assessment: this isn't a destination in itself. What it is, though, is a decent spot to stop if you're driving between attractions or need to let the kids out of the car for twenty minutes. The tables are basic, the setting rural, and that's rather the point.

If you're staying at Thorney Lakes Caravan & Camping Park or Esme's Escape nearby, you might use this as a quick lunch stop between longer walks or days out - it saves the drive into Crewkerne proper. The real appeal is the no-nonsense approach: free, low-key, the kind of place where you spread out sandwiches and don't overthink it. Families travelling with young children might appreciate the simplicity - no queues, no paying, just grass and tables.

Timing-wise, go when it suits your day rather than planning around it. There's nothing here to dictate when you visit. Rain will make it less appealing unless you're happy eating in the car. This works best as part of a broader ramble through the Somerset countryside rather than as a standalone stop. If you're after a proper picnic experience with views or amenities, look elsewhere. But if you just need a place to pause and fuel up, Cartgate does the job without pretence.