Grove Park

The wetland paths at Grove Park draw you into Somerset's quiet side - flat, open country where the sky dominates and bird calls carry further than traffic noise. This nature reserve sits just outside Burnham-on-Sea, a straightforward drive from any of the holiday parks dotting the coast road, and it's the sort of place that rewards a morning wander rather than demanding half your day.

What you actually get is grassland and water meadows threaded with trails, best visited between spring and early autumn when the wildlife is active. Dragonflies dart across the water in July. Lapwings nest here in March and April. If you're a proper birder you'll have a field guide in hand; if you're just after a breath of air and a flat walk with your family, it does that job too. Children won't find it thrilling for hours - there's no playground or café - but they'll spot things, and the lack of crowds is its own reward.

Access appears to be free, though opening hours aren't prominently advertised, so a quick check before you go saves a wasted trip. Allow ninety minutes for a proper circuit without rushing. The trails are manageable for young legs because there are no hills worth mentioning, which matters when you've got little ones in tow.

If you're based at Channel View or any of the parks within five miles, this fills a morning nicely between beach days. It's the counterweight to theme park visits - quiet, local, genuinely wild in its own understated way.