Jack & Jill Hill

Two white windmills stand on this Somerset hilltop like something out of a children's book - except one's a shell and the other's been converted into a house. Jack & Jill Hill sits just outside Mells, a proper working landscape where you can actually see why someone built mills here in the first place. The views across the Mendip Hills are genuinely worth the climb, and the walking routes that pass through are excellent. You're looking at maybe thirty to forty minutes up here if you're leisurely about it, though the steep final stretch separates the committed walkers from the casual strollers. Families with older kids will manage it fine; younger ones might find the walk tedious unless they're properly motivated. The mills themselves are private - you won't get inside - but that doesn't really diminish the experience. It's the sight of them silhouetted against the sky that does the work. Spring and autumn are ideal, when the light hits properly and you're not melting or freezing. If you're staying at Glamping on the Hill nearby, this is a natural afternoon outing, combining decent exercise with something genuinely memorable. The surrounding countryside makes for good exploration too - it's the kind of place where a two-hour excursion can stretch into half a day without you noticing. Weather dependent, absolutely, but on a clear day it's well worth the effort.