Little Great Wood

The woodland walk at Little Great Wood near Bridgwater is a straightforward affair, and that's rather the point. You get proper old Somerset woodland without the fuss - ancient trees, dappled light, the sort of place where the noise of the A38 feels worlds away even though it's not far off.

It's the kind of spot walkers pass through rather than make a specific trip for, though if you're staying at Moorhouse Campsite just down the road, it's well worth an hour's ramble. The paths are muddy in winter (bring proper boots), and the canopy is thick enough that you'll stay relatively dry even when it's drizzling. Children will find it interesting for about as long as they can spot different birds or spot a tree they reckon they could climb, which is honest feedback.

There's nothing commercialised about it - no visitor centre, no refreshment hut, no information boards dotted about explaining every last fern. You turn up, walk the woods, leave. If that appeals to you, it's exactly what you need. If you're after something with more structure or a proper viewpoint, you might feel it's a bit underwhelming.

Access appears to be free and unrestricted, though the woodland isn't exactly sign-posted from every direction. Heading from Bridgwater, you'll need to know roughly where you're going. In winter when visibility through the trees opens up, you get a better sense of the place. Summer can feel claustrophobic and buggy.