Stockhill Wood

Walk into Stockhill Wood and you're in proper Somerset - ancient woodland with the sort of quiet that makes you remember why you left the city. It's a genuine working wood rather than a manicured country estate job, with mature trees, uneven paths, and patches where you can actually see what woodland management looks like rather than just a nice photo opportunity.

The place works best for people who actually like woods - walkers wanting a gentle couple of hours rather than a destination in itself. There are decent paths threading through, and in spring the place fills with bluebells properly done. Autumn's decent too when the light comes through the canopy. You won't find a visitor centre or tea hut, which is exactly the point.

Based just outside Wells, it slots nicely into a wider walking day. If you're staying at Cheddar Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Wells Touring Park, you can easily walk here without needing the car. The nearest town is Wells itself - maybe twenty minutes away - so you could pair a woodland morning with the cathedral and the town's market if you're that way inclined.

Allow an hour or so depending on how much you potter. There's no entrance fee or fancy facilities, which keeps it feeling like a real place people actually use rather than a staged attraction. Worth the detour if you're in the area and keen on trees. If your idea of outdoors is a manicured country estate with a gift shop, you'll find it a bit rough round the edges.