Pendon Hill

The walk up Pendon Hill from Bridgwater takes about forty minutes and rewards you with proper views across the Somerset Levels. It's not a dramatic climb - more of a steady plod through fields and along farm tracks - but once you're at the top, the flat landscape below stretches away in every direction, which is exactly the point of coming here.

The hill itself is modest, nothing like the drama of Exmoor or the Mendips further south, but that's what makes it work. Kids can manage it without complaint, and you'll spot walkers of all ages taking it on. The view from the summit is genuinely rewarding if you time it right - late afternoon light across those levels is something else. On clear days you can see right across to the Blackdown Hills.

There's no visitor infrastructure to speak of, so bring water and pack your own snacks. Go on a dry day when the ground isn't boggy; after heavy rain it becomes a mudfest. The route is public access, and there's nowhere to park right at the start, so factor in a short walk from the nearest road.

For caravan holidaymakers based at The Hideout or Thornhills, Pendon makes an excellent morning or late-afternoon outing when the weather cooperates. It's close enough to be effortless but far enough away to feel like a proper excursion. The Levels are what Somerset does best - wide open, windswept, and honestly a bit hypnotic once you're up there looking down.