Pitney Roman villa

A Roman villa buried in a Somerset field might sound like a job for archaeologists rather than holiday makers, but Pitney is worth the detour if you've got an hour spare near Langport. What remains is a modest collection of stone foundations and mosaic fragments - nothing grand, but enough to fire the imagination about life in Roman Britain. You'll walk across farmland to reach it, which is half the appeal. The site sits quietly in the countryside, and on a decent day the walk alone makes it worthwhile.

This is genuinely for people who care about archaeology or Roman history. Kids will need something to keep them engaged - a smartphone search about what stood here 1,800 years ago helps more than any on-site signage you might hope for. The main draw is the mosaics: they've weathered remarkably well considering their age, and seeing actual Roman floor decoration in situ, rather than behind glass in a museum, changes how you think about the place.

There's no visitor centre, no café, and no obvious entrance fee - it's essentially free access across open land. Allow an hour including the walk. If you're staying at Thornhills Holiday Park or Thorney Lakes a few miles away, it's an easy afternoon activity that costs nothing and beats another lap of the holiday park. Best visited between April and September when the paths are dry and the light catches the mosaics properly. Somerset's got better-known Roman sites, but Pitney rewards curiosity.