Haydon Hill

Haydon Hill rises above the villages around Mells with the kind of modest drama that Somerset does so well - nothing Alpine, but enough of a climb to make you feel like you've properly earned the views. The summit itself isn't dramatic, but that's rather the point. You get decent 360-degree views across the Mendips and towards the Cotswolds if the light's right, and on a clear day you can pick out landmarks that make the walk worthwhile.

It's a proper hill-walker's spot rather than a casual stroll destination. Allow a good hour and a half from Mells, longer if you're taking photographs or stopping to catch your breath. The ascent is steady without being brutal, and the ground underfoot varies between field paths and rougher moorland depending on your route. Families with older children will manage it fine; younger ones might find it a bit of a slog.

The real value is how well it slots into a wider Somerset walking circuit. Mells itself is attractive enough for a lunch stop, and if you're based at somewhere like Glamping on the Hill just down the road, you've got the perfect excuse to get out properly rather than pottering about the site all day. It's not a destination in itself - nobody's flying to Somerset specifically for Haydon Hill - but as part of a long weekend rambling through the Mendips, it does the job. Go for the walk, not the summit. The walk is the point.