Churchill Recreation Ground

The flat meadowland around Churchill doesn't look like much from the road - just Somerset countryside doing its thing. But this recreation ground is genuinely worth a detour if you're based at any of the Cheddar caravan sites, especially Cheddar Woods Resort or Cheddar Caravan and Motorhome Club, which are all within five miles.

It's a proper nature reserve rather than a manicured park, which means you get actual wildlife. The wetland areas are excellent for spotting birds, and there are walking trails that wind through open grassland and scrubby woodland. In spring it's alive with wildflowers - nothing theatrical, just honest Somerset meadow plants. The whole thing feels refreshingly unpretentious, the kind of place locals actually use rather than somewhere designed for tourists.

You don't need more than an hour here unless you're into serious birdwatching, in which case bring binoculars and allow a couple of hours. The walking is dead easy - no hills, all flat paths. Good for families with younger kids who might struggle with the Mendip climbs you'd do at Cheddar Gorge. There's a car park and facilities, though don't expect anything fancy.

Admission appears to be free. It's the sort of place that sits quietly between the big attractions - not as dramatic as Black Down or as famous as anything in Cheddar - but that's precisely why it works. If you want a gentle walk without the crowds, this delivers.