Burledge Hill

You get a proper sense of achievement reaching the top of Burledge Hill, especially if you've tackled it from Wells on foot. This Somerset peak isn't exactly alpine - it's 370 metres at best - but the walk there and the views across the Mendip plateau make it worth the effort.

From the summit you can see for miles across Somerset's rolling landscape. On a clear day the visibility stretches well beyond Wells itself, and the contrast between the agricultural flatlands below and the moorland up top feels genuinely dramatic for this part of the world. The climb itself takes the better part of an hour depending on your fitness and which route you pick, but it's manageable for families with school-age kids, though younger ones might find it a slog.

This is primarily a walker's destination. There's no visitor centre, café, or facilities that I could find - you come up here for the walk and the view, not for infrastructure. It works brilliantly as part of a longer Mendips ramble, especially if you're based at Cheddar Camping and Caravanning Club Site just down the way. That location puts you within striking distance for a few good walks across this stretch of countryside.

Go early morning or late afternoon when the light's better for photographs. Avoid it midday unless you want a baking hillside and crowds. The path can be muddy after rain, so bring proper boots rather than trainers. Free to visit, naturally - it's a hill.