A Somerset woodland, which has a “different flavour of magic” every time you visit, has been named among Britain’s most enchanting.
Horner Wood was featured alongside nine other locations in an article from The Telegraph.
The list featured one recommendation from 10 different writers at the publication.
Discussing the list, it wrote: “The fragrance of flowers and the murmur of birdsong, sunshine filtering down through the canopy… few things can beat an afternoon spent wandering through a British wood, especially at this time of year, when the bluebells are flourishing.”
The full list of Britain’s most enchanting woodlands can be found on The Telegraph.
Why is Horner Wood among Britain’s most enchanting woodlands?
Travel writer Paul Bloomfield went to bat for Horner Wood, detailing his experience of first visiting it one September morning.
After staying the night in Porlock and seeing the mist that had enveloped the village, he set out for the woodland.
He described how the “nascent sun illuminated a lost world” with Horner Wood being one of Britain’s largest ancient oak woodlands.
It spans 800 acres and is “populated by venerable trees at least 500 years old”.
Bloomfield added: “Silvery beams caught lingering tendrils of mist.
“A dipper hopped between rocks, foraging in the stream that babbles through the wood’s shady depths.
“And was that the roar of a red deer stag?
Horner Wood has plenty of veteran trees and wildlife to see (Image: Nigel J Mundy/Camera Club)
“I’ve since returned in every season, each yielding a different flavour of magic: spring bluebells, summer nightjars and wood warblers, frosty winter rambles through rustling banks of russet leaves.
“It’s never less than bewitching.”
What can you find in Horner Wood?
Horner Wood is a National Trust site that is part of Exmoor, with it being close to the village of Porlock.
The conservation charity says it is a part of a National Nature Reserve and one of the largest “unenclosed” ancient oak woodlands in Britain.
It adds: “In this extensive ancient wood pasture, you will see ancient oak pollards, an impressive oak tree over 500 years old as well as a variety of wildlife which make their home amongst these magnificent trees.”
The oak tree that is over 500 years old is called ‘The General’ and most of the woodland is “rich in history”.
You can also spot a 17th-century packhorse bridge and a Tudor iron-smelting site hidden amongst the trees.
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Wildlife that can be spotted here includes red deer, while pied flycatchers and wood warblers visit in the summer.
In autumn at dusk, you can spot several species of bats flying around the woods.
Alongside all of that, there are many opportunities for walking and cycling along the paths of the woodland.
Have you visited Horner Wood, and what did you think? Let us know in the comments.