National Trust - Ebbor Gorge National Nature Reserve

The gorge cuts through the Mendips like something carved by giants - towering limestone cliffs that rise 80 metres on either side of a narrow wooded ravine. Ebbor Gorge isn't showy or crowded. It's the kind of place where you walk in quietly and the noise of the outside world just stops.

There's a proper trail that loops through the reserve, taking you past ancient yew trees and along a stream bed that's been wearing away at this landscape for thousands of years. Geologically minded types will have a field day spotting the exposed rock formations and thinking about ice age rivers. Walkers should allow a solid hour and a half if you're doing the full circuit - it's not flat, and roots and uneven ground mean you need decent boots.

Families with young kids might find 45 minutes enough. Teenagers who aren't properly into hiking could get restless, but anyone who actually enjoys being outside will appreciate how untouched it feels. There's no visitor centre, no gift shop, no queue - just woodland, stone, and the hum of nature getting on with things.

It's free to access, which is brilliant. From Wells you're barely two miles away - perfect for combining with a morning at nearby Cathedral View Glamping or staying at one of the cluster of parks around Cheddar and Wells Touring Park. Spring and autumn are best - summer gets steamy in the gorge itself, and winter mud can be relentless. Go early if you want any sense of solitude.