Hare Park

You'll find yourself wandering through grassland and scrub that feels genuinely wild for Somerset. Hare Park is a working nature reserve just outside Minehead, and it's the sort of place where you might actually spot something interesting rather than just walk round a manicured loop. The reserve protects brownfield habitat - old industrial land left to do its own thing - which means it's brilliant for insects, ground-nesting birds, and those elusive hares the place is named for. Don't expect manicured paths or visitor centres. This is proper conservation work, not a theme park.

Walkers will get the most from it, particularly those who enjoy spotting wildlife or want something less obvious than the coastal paths round Minehead itself. You'll need decent boots in winter - it can get squidgy. Allow an hour minimum, longer if you're patient with binoculars. Spring and early summer are best for breeding birds and wildflowers, though autumn migration brings its own rewards.

The nearest town, Minehead, has everything you need, and both the Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite and Butlins are within easy striking distance if you're basing yourself there. It's the sort of spot that makes sense as a half-day detour rather than a destination in itself - pair it with the coastal walking or Dunster's attractions if you're in the area for longer. Free admission to most nature reserves in England unless signage says otherwise, though it's worth checking their website or ringing ahead since details aren't always obvious online.