Chew Valley Lake

The water hits you first - a proper expanse of it, stretching across the Mendips like someone's flooded a valley and called it a day. Chew Valley Lake is a reservoir, yes, but it doesn't feel like industrial infrastructure. It feels like a destination.

This is walking country. The path around the lake runs to about four miles if you fancy the full loop, though you can do shorter stretches without guilt. The water's always changing - steely grey one day, reflecting blue sky the next - and the surrounding hills keep everything contained and intimate despite the sheer size of the thing. Birdwatchers come here religiously. Winter brings migrating species, and spring's chaos with nesting birds. Even if ornithology leaves you cold, the sheer number of people with binoculars suggests something worth watching.

It's free to walk around, though there's a visitor centre if you want proper facilities and a cafe. Allow two to three hours for a comfortable ramble without rushing. The ground's generally sound, though it can get muddy after rain - proper walking boots aren't overkill.

Wells is barely twenty minutes away, which makes this a natural addition to a Mendips holiday rather than a standalone trip. If you're based at Cheddar Camping and Caravanning Club Site, you're within striking distance. Families with older kids who can manage a few miles will get something out of it. Photographers will shoot until their batteries die. Walkers looking for accessible Somerset countryside without the Cheddar Gorge crowds will find exactly what they need here.