Cotlake Hill

The woodland around Cotlake Hill rises up from the Somerset levels proper like someone's finally turned the landscape vertical. It's a working forest, not some manicured country estate, so don't expect neat paths and tidy benches - this is the real thing, with dark soil underfoot and proper trees that actually look like they belong in England.

You get proper forest walking here, the kind where visibility drops after ten metres and you genuinely feel like you've stepped out of the Taunton commuter belt. The terrain's undulating enough to give your legs something to do without being punishing. On a damp day - which is most days round these parts - the smell is properly brilliant, all leaf mould and moisture. Walkers will find their rhythm here; kids get to feel properly adventurous without needing a safety briefing.

The forest sits handily close to Holly Bush Caravan Park, only 3.9 miles away, which makes it a natural add-on if you're based there for a longer Somerset break. An hour's walk sorts you out nicely, though you can easily spend longer if you've got the energy. There's no formal infrastructure to speak of, which keeps it feeling authentic - bring your own map or a working compass if you're not confident with navigation apps in tree cover.

Cotlake Hill delivers straightforward woodland on the edge of open country. Not Instagram-ready, but genuinely worth your wellies.