Cocklemoor

The Somerset Levels are flat, wide, and properly atmospheric - Cocklemoor sits right in the middle of this landscape, a working nature reserve where you can actually see what these wetlands are about. It's not a manicured visitor centre with gift shops; it's the real thing. The reserve sits between Langport and the surrounding drainage channels, and what strikes you first is the sheer openness. Reeds, water, distant trees. In spring and autumn the birdwatching is serious - marsh harriers, bearded reedlings, the lot. Summer brings dragonflies that are genuinely extraordinary if you're into that sort of thing.

You're looking at a proper walk here, not a stroll. Bring binoculars, waterproof boots, and realistic expectations about what you'll spot on any given day. The paths can be boggy even when they look fine, and there's not much shelter if the weather turns. Winter is bleak but often the best time for rarer birds.

It works brilliantly as a break from camping or caravanning at Thorney Lakes or Thornhills, both a short drive away. You won't spend more than an hour or two here unless you're a serious twitcher, but it does exactly what it should - gives you proper contact with the Levels rather than a sanitised version of them. Free to visit, as far as we could tell, though the more you know about wetland birds and insects before arriving, the more you'll get from it. Not one for impatient kids, but for anyone who likes their nature unvarnished, it's worth the detour.