Alice Park

Alice Park sits just outside Bath, a modest nature reserve that punches above its weight if you know what you're after. It's proper Somerset - woodland trails threading through mixed broadleaf trees, open meadows that come alive with wildflowers in spring, and enough peace to actually hear yourself think after a day navigating Bath's Georgian crescents.

Walkers will find genuine value here. The paths are straightforward rather than challenging, which suits families with younger legs or anyone who just wants a gentle ramble without the pretension of a major hiking destination. You could comfortably cover the whole thing in an hour, or linger longer if you're into spotting birds or photographing whatever's in bloom. The meadow sections are the draw - especially if you time it right and catch the bluebells or later summer wildflowers.

If you're staying at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat or Campwell Farm - both within a few miles - this works brilliantly as a mid-week break from the stone-heavy tourism of Bath itself. Bring the kids, let them run off steam on the open grass, then head back for a proper dinner in town. It's not going to replace a day in the Cotswolds, but it fills that gap between Bath's urban intensity and proper countryside beautifully. Completely free, naturally, and there's rarely a queue for the car park. Go midweek if you can - weekends draw the Bath overspill.