Brickfields Park

The path down to Brickfields Park takes you through proper Somerset countryside, dropping into a valley that feels properly cut off from the world despite being barely a mile from Bath's Georgian terraces. It's a nature reserve rather than a manicured park, which means overgrown banks, reed beds, and the constant sound of water - there's a decent stretch of the River Avon running through here, and it actually feels wild in places.

Walkers will get the most from this one. The trails meander along the water's edge and up the surrounding slopes, and depending on which way you go, you're looking at anything from a gentle twenty-minute potter to a proper couple-hour circuit. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars - I spotted herons, kingfishers, and various warblers on my last visit, though early mornings are obviously your best bet for anything exciting.

Families with older kids will enjoy it, though younger ones might find the paths a bit muddy and uninspiring without much in the way of facilities or play areas. There's no cafe or visitor centre, so bring what you need. The ground can be boggy after rain, so proper footwear matters.

It slots nicely into a Bath-based holiday, especially if you're staying at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat just up the road. Use it as a proper counterpoint to the city - an hour here clears your head properly before heading back to the crescents and Roman baths. Less showy than some reserves, but that's rather the point.