Halscombe Wood

The woodland walk through Halscombe Wood, just inland from Minehead, is proper Somerset - all dense beech and oak with that particular damp smell that comes after rain. You're looking at a straightforward forest trail rather than anything manicured or signposted within an inch of its life, which means it rewards a bit of map-reading but feels genuinely wild.

It's the sort of place walkers appreciate more than casual strollers. The paths wind through decent woodland, and you'll get a sense of the terrain that rolls down towards the coast. Depending on which way you go, you might stretch it to an hour or pick a shorter loop if the kids are flagging. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so bring what you need.

Coupled with a week at one of the nearby caravan parks - Hoburne Blue Anchor or Haven Doniford Bay are both within a couple of miles - it makes a solid morning out without the crowds you'd get at the bigger attractions. Butlins at Minehead is close enough if you want a splash of controlled chaos, but Halscombe Wood offers the opposite: just trees, birdsong, and air that actually tastes of something.

Best visited after dry weather, when the paths aren't squelching underfoot. Spring and autumn are probably your windows - summer can be a bit sticky under all that canopy.