Mendip Plains Equestrian Centre

The Mendip Plains Equestrian Centre sits just outside Wells and is genuinely worth a stop if you're on horseback or thinking about picking up a lesson while you're in Somerset. It's not a showground or anything fancy - just a proper working riding centre where you can expect proper instruction on decent horses rather than the knackered seaside pony experience.

What actually happens here is the usual equestrian fare: lessons for all abilities, hacks out across the Mendip plateau, and if you're already competent, they'll set you up for something more challenging. The setting matters though. You're surrounded by open moorland and limestone hills, so even a plodding 45-minute trot feels better than it would in a flat field near Cheltenham.

Families with horse-mad kids will find this beats another day at the seaside, though younger children might find a first lesson a bit much to sit through. Experienced riders looking to explore the Mendips without owning a horse locally will genuinely enjoy this - the terrain rewards decent horsemanship.

If you're based at Cheddar Camping and Caravanning Club Site, which is only a few miles away, adding a morning or afternoon ride here is a natural fit alongside walks around the gorge and Chepstow caves. Check ahead for lesson availability and pricing, as these details weren't readily to hand. It's the sort of place that works best by prior arrangement rather than turning up hoping for a walk-in spot.