Norton Camp

The Iron Age settlement at Norton Camp sits on a hillside near Taunton, and what you're looking at is roughly 2,500 years of history flattened into earthwork ridges and ditches. It's not dramatic - no standing stones or ruins - but it tells a proper story if you're willing to walk around and read the contours of the land itself.

What survives are the defensive ramparts that once enclosed a community of round houses. You can trace them quite clearly if the grass isn't too overgrown, picking out where the ditches run and where the banks rise. It's the kind of place that rewards a slow circuit rather than a quick photo stop. Archaeology enthusiasts will spend a solid hour here; families with younger kids might find twenty minutes enough before they want moving on.

The site is free and accessible year-round, though you'll want to check conditions after rain - it can get muddy. Spring and autumn are probably your best bet for decent views and comfortable walking. Allow an hour if you're taking time to think about what you're seeing.

If you're staying at Cornish Farm Touring Park or Ashe Farm, both within a few miles, Norton Camp makes a decent afternoon leg-stretch from the caravan. It won't compete with a major heritage attraction, but if you're already in the area and interested in how people actually lived rather than how they died, it's worth the detour.