Halsway Hill

The walk up Halsway Hill takes you straight into proper Somerset moorland, with views that stretch across the Quantocks to the Bristol Channel on a clear day. It's not a dramatic peak - you're looking at around 1,000 feet - but the climb is straightforward enough and rewards you with real sense of openness once you're up there.

This is walker territory, pure and simple. Families with young kids might find the ascent a bit much, though older children who've done a few hills before will manage it fine. The moorland itself is open ground with bracken and gorse, so you're not scrambling through dense woodland. Allow a couple of hours for a leisurely round trip from Holford, which sits just below at the foot of the Quantocks.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Moorhouse Campsite is closest at under three miles away, or Haven Doniford Bay if you want a bit more facilities - Halsway Hill makes an easy half-day excursion. You could combine it with other Quantock walks easily enough. The terrain is typical moorland underfoot, so proper boots are sensible, especially after wet weather when it gets boggy.

The appeal here is the walking itself rather than any particular feature at the top. No visitor centre, no cafe, no faffing about. Just moorland, sky, and the kind of views that remind you why people bother with the Quantocks at all. Go early in the day if you want the best light and fewest other people.