Bridgwater bay

The vast mudflats and salt marshes of Bridgwater Bay stretch out for miles along the Somerset coast, creating one of those landscapes that catches you completely off-guard. This isn't postcard-pretty stuff - it's genuinely wild and moody, especially when the tide comes in at speed across the flat expanse. The bay itself is best experienced from the seawall walks near Holford, where you can properly take in the scale of the place without getting yourself stuck in mud.

It's a walkers' destination first and foremost. The tidal range here is enormous - second only to the Bay of Fundy in Canada - so timing matters. Come at the wrong time and you're looking at kilometres of exposed mud; come at the right time and you've got proper water views and birdwatching opportunities that draw serious naturalists. The wetlands support thousands of wading birds, particularly in winter and during migration periods.

Families with young kids might find it underwhelming if they're expecting sandy beaches and ice cream vans. Older kids who like walking and spotting wildlife will have a brilliant time though. There's something primal about standing on that seawall watching the landscape shift with the tides.

It's completely free to access and costs nothing to walk the seawall - just check tide times before you head out or you'll waste a trip. Allow at least two to three hours for a decent walk. Staying at Haven Doniford Bay just down the coast means you're perfectly placed for a morning or afternoon visit without travelling far.