Priddy Pools

Three ponds sit on Priddy Moor, just south of Wells, and they're one of those places locals know about but visitors often miss. The pools themselves are unremarkable on first glance - shallow, murky water surrounded by moorland - but the story underneath makes the walk worthwhile. These are medieval fish ponds, dug out around 700 years ago, and you're standing on working evidence of how medieval communities fed themselves.

Walkers get the most from Priddy Pools. The moor around them is open and exposed, proper windswept in winter, but on a clear day you can see right across the Mendips. It's a straightforward circuit of the pools themselves - takes about an hour at a leisurely pace - and the ground is firm underfoot most of the time. No admission fee, no visitor centre, no tea room. Just you, the water, and the wind.

Bring binoculars if you're into birds. Dragonflies skitter across the water in summer. Families with younger children might find it a bit thin on entertainment if you're only stopping for half an hour, but it works well as part of a bigger walk across the moor.

If you're staying at Cheddar Camping or Wells Touring Park, it's a short drive out. Worth pairing with a visit to the caves at Cheddar Gorge or a wander through Wells itself. The Mendips have proper substance around here - don't treat Priddy Pools as a destination on its own, but slot it into a walking day and it makes sense.