Oakwood Church

A small stone church on the outskirts of Taunton, Oakwood Church sits quietly away from the main routes - the kind of place you stumble upon rather than plan for. The building itself is modest, with that particular character of English village churches that have stood for centuries without fuss or fanfare. It's worth a stop if you're already in the area, though I wouldn't say it's a destination in itself.

The church appeals mainly to those interested in local ecclesiastical history or walkers who fancy a gentle poke around the Somerset countryside. An hour maximum, realistically - half that if you're just popping in to look at the interior. There's something calming about these quiet rural churches, especially on a weekday when you might have the place entirely to yourself.

If you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Cornish Farm Touring Park is just 2.4 miles away, or Ashe Farm even closer - Oakwood makes an easy addition to a morning's wandering. The Somerset Levels surrounding Taunton are flat and rather dull for serious walks, so pairing it with visits to a couple of other local churches or a broader exploration of the area makes more sense than treating it as a standalone trip.

Admission is almost certainly free, as with most parish churches, though it's worth checking if there are any events on. Nothing fancy about it, but it's got genuine character if you take the time to look.