Cleeve Abbey

The ruins of a twelfth-century Cistercian monastery sit quietly on the edge of Washford, a few miles south of Taunton. What strikes you first is how much survives - the refectory walls still stand two storeys high, and the abbot's kitchen remains largely intact, its chimneys rising from the rubble like a reminder that monks once actually lived and worked here.

You can wander the grounds freely, following the footprint of the cloisters and imagining the daily rhythms of monastic life. The stone is soft and weathered, covered in lichen, and it's the sort of place where you notice small details - a carved finial, the way light falls through a Romanesque arch. Allow a good hour if you want to take it in properly, longer if you're the type to sit and sketch or read about the history.

Families with younger children might find it a bit thin on engagement after thirty minutes - there's no interpretation centre or reconstructions to bring things to life. But for walkers, historians, or anyone after a bit of quiet contemplation, it's well worth the detour. The abbey sits within easy reach of the Somerset coast parks like Haven Doniford Bay and Hoburne Blue Anchor, so it makes sense as a half-day trip from a seaside caravan base. Check the English Heritage website before you visit - admission details and seasonal hours vary - but the setting alone, among green fields and with barely a sound except birdsong, makes it feel special.