Ash Village Recreation Ground

Walk through the gates at Ash Village Recreation Ground and you'll find yourself in proper Somerset countryside - the kind of place locals know about but most visitors miss entirely. It's a straightforward nature reserve just outside Crewkerne, nothing fancy, but that's exactly what makes it work.

The space itself is open grassland with woodland edges, the sort of setting where you can actually spot birds without needing binoculars glued to your face. There are footpaths threading through, ideal for a gentle ramble that won't knacker the kids or eat up an entire afternoon. If you're into wildlife spotting - birds mainly, given the habitat - bring a notebook. In spring and early summer the place comes alive; winter's a bit bleak if you're after a colourful outing.

This works brilliantly as an add-on to a week at Thorney Lakes, just three miles down the road. That's close enough for a morning walk without needing to load everyone back in the car. Free admission, no entry fees, no gift shop pushing overpriced ice creams - you just turn up. Families with younger children will get a solid hour out of it; walkers after a longer loop can extend their route into the surrounding countryside. Older kids who aren't keen on structured attractions often prefer this sort of thing to another museum.

It's not going to be the highlight of your holiday, but as a low-key morning option when the weather's decent, it absolutely justifies the short drive from your campsite.