Five Acres Dog Field

Your dog's going to lose its mind here. Five Acres Dog Field, just outside Taunton, is basically what it says on the tin - a dedicated space where your dog can properly run about without a lead, chase a ball, and burn off all that pent-up energy that's been building since the car journey.

The field itself is spacious enough that even on busier days it doesn't feel rammed. You get a mix of regulars and passing visitors, so the social side works well if your dog enjoys a good play-wrestle with strangers. There's proper fencing all the way round, which means you can actually relax instead of watching like a hawk the entire time.

It's free admission and worth factoring in if you're staying at any of the nearby caravan parks - Ashe Farm or Cornish Farm are both within a few miles, as is 5 Acres on the Somerset Levels. If you've got a dog and you're touring the area, this saves you hunting for scattered dog parks and does exactly what it promises. Bring water for the dog and maybe a ball or two. You'll likely spend 45 minutes to an hour here depending on how knackered you want your spaniel before the drive home.

The Somerset Levels around Taunton aren't exactly dramatic countryside, but they're flat and easy to explore if you've got a campervan parked nearby. This field slots nicely into that kind of trip.