Quantock hills

The Quantock Hills rise abruptly from the Somerset levels - proper rolling moorland that feels remote despite being only minutes from Holford. It's designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, though the real draw is the walking. Twenty-odd miles of footpaths crisscross heathland studded with gorse and bilberry, with views stretching all the way to the Bristol Channel on a clear day.

This is walker country, frankly. Families with energetic kids will get hours out of it - the terrain's manageable enough that you're not scrambling rock faces, but steep enough to feel like genuine countryside rather than a park stroll. History types should know the hills are scattered with Bronze Age barrows and ancient commons that locals fought tooth and nail to preserve in the Victorian era. Allow two to three hours for a solid walk depending on which route you pick.

There's no charge for access or parking, which is refreshing. Spring and early summer are cracking, when the heather flowers, though honestly autumn gets overlooked - the light's cleaner somehow. Summer weekends draw crowds to the main carpark spots, so go weekday morning if you can manage it.

It slots perfectly into a Somerset base, especially if you're staying at Moorhouse Campsite or Middle Stone Farm Glamping nearby. Use it as your proper walking day between visits to the coast or gentler valley walks. The Quantocks demand proper boots and a map - they're not challenging in any technical sense, but it's real terrain, not theme-park countryside.