Lype Hill

The walk up Lype Hill from Minehead is one of those Somerset climbs that looks innocent on the map and absolutely knocks the wind out of you halfway up. It's steep, properly steep, but the reward is a commanding view over Exmoor and the Bristol Channel that stretches for miles on a clear day.

You get proper moorland at the top - heather, gorse, and the kind of wide-open space that makes you feel like you've earned your legs back. The hill itself is only 280 metres, so don't expect Alpine drama, but the ascent from sea level is relentless enough. Most people take 45 minutes to an hour going up, depending on fitness and whether you stop to catch your breath (everyone does).

This is walkers' territory. Families with younger kids might find the gradient exhausting, though determined types with teenagers will manage it fine. History enthusiasts won't find much - it's pure landscape, which is rather the point. The views are best in late afternoon when the light hits the channel properly, and autumn mornings when there's a chance of mist rolling in below you.

If you're staying at Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Butlins Minehead, it's your obvious half-day walk. Hoburne Blue Anchor is fractionally further out but still very accessible. The route is well-marked from Minehead itself, though parking at the trailhead fills up on weekends. Get there early or go on a weekday. Admission is free - it's open moorland. Allow two hours return if you're not in a rush.