Little Brooks Green

Little Brooks Green sits just outside Wells - a proper Somerset water meadow where you can actually hear yourself think. It's a nature reserve that doesn't try to be anything it isn't: a stretch of wet grassland with ditches, reeds, and the kind of birdlife that keeps twitchers coming back season after season.

You won't find visitor centres or tea shops here. What you get instead is a genuine working landscape - the sort of place where you can spot snipe in winter or hear the crack of a bittern in spring if you're lucky and patient. The walking is flat and straightforward, ideal if you've got younger kids or anyone who finds steep hills a non-starter. Allow an hour if you're serious about spotting things, half that if you just fancy a gentle stroll.

Historically, these meadows tell the story of how Somerset's wetlands used to function - before drainage schemes changed the landscape completely. For birdwatchers and nature photographers, it's absolutely worth the detour from Wells. Families after a quick nature ramble will find it decent enough, though there's little to entertain kids who want more than puddles and wildlife-watching.

If you're staying at Cathedral View Glamping or Wells Touring Park, you're minutes away. It's the sort of spot that works best in spring and autumn when migrant birds pass through. The walking's muddier in winter, so expect boggy conditions. Free to visit, no gates or fuss - just turn up and explore.