Rodney Stoke National Nature Reserve

The walk into Rodney Stoke winds through proper Somerset countryside - you're heading into limestone country that feels older than most places have a right to be. This nature reserve sits just outside Cheddar, and it's one of those spots that rewards you for finding it without screaming about itself.

What you get here is a working landscape rather than a manicured trail. The reserve protects grassland, scrub and woodland across land that's been shaped by geology and human use for centuries. Walkers come for the footpaths that meander through the site; birdwatchers are here for migrant species and resident populations; botanists lose themselves in the seasonal flowers. If you've got kids, they'll enjoy spotting insects and clambering over the terrain, though it's not a "playground" sort of place - they need a bit of initiative.

Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to actually explore rather than just glance around. The paths aren't demanding, but they're not tarmac and pushchair-friendly either. There's something quite meditative about it, particularly in spring when the wildflowers are coming through.

It slots nicely into a Cheddar-based holiday. You're three miles from Cheddar Woods Resort & Spa if you want comfort, or five miles from Castle Farm Campsite for something more basic. Combine it with a walk round Cheddar Gorge itself and you've got a solid day. The reserve costs nothing to visit, which keeps it honest - no gift shops, no visitor centre fluff. Just land that's being left alone to do its thing.