Longe Copse

Walk into Longe Copse and you're immediately swallowed by proper woodland - the kind where sunlight filters through in dusty shafts and the path softens under leaf litter. It's a modest forest near Holford, Somerset, but it punches above its weight for anyone after a genuine bit of peace without the crowds.

The trees are dense enough that you feel properly away from it all, even though you're only minutes from the Quantock Hills. There are tracks running through it, nothing too demanding, which makes it ideal for families who want their kids burning energy without a full-blown hiking commitment. Walkers will find it a solid warm-up or cool-down walk if you're basing yourself in the area - maybe thirty minutes to an hour depending on which route you take.

It's free to access and there's no faffing about with opening hours or admission fees. Go when it suits you, though after rain the paths can get a bit boggy, so decent boots matter.

If you're staying at Moorhouse Campsite just two miles away, this is your backyard essentially. Even from Haven Doniford Bay, it's barely a ten-minute drive, making it a proper alternative to the bigger attractions if you want something less manicured. It won't take your whole afternoon, but it's exactly the kind of place that justifies a park holiday in Somerset - close enough to be useful, quiet enough to feel like a proper escape.