Porlock Recreation Ground

Just outside Minehead, this sprawling recreation ground is where locals actually go when they want to escape the seafront crowds. It's a proper working space - football pitches, tennis courts, bowling green - but the real draw is the open grassland that slopes gently towards woodland at the edges. You're looking at a solid couple of hours here if you're walking the perimeter paths, longer if you stop to watch the wildlife.

The ground itself is free and sits nicely between serious hikers heading up to Exmoor and families who want somewhere green without the commitment of a proper moorland walk. Kids can burn off energy on the grass, and there's usually something going on - the bowling club meets regularly, occasional cricket in summer. The paths are well-trodden and flat enough that pushchairs aren't a nightmare, though it can get muddy after rain.

Worth timing your visit for late afternoon when the light's best and the crowds thin out. If you're staying at Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Butlins Minehead, this is genuinely handy - a short drive or even a decent walk depending on which end of Minehead you're based. Don't expect dramatic views or rare birds; expect a proper local green space where the Somerset air is fresh and you won't queue for anything. It fills the gap perfectly between a full day on Exmoor and a bucket-and-spade afternoon.