Royston Lake

The water at Royston Lake sits surprisingly still most mornings, which is either lovely or a bit eerie depending on your mood. It's a modest freshwater lake just outside Taunton, the sort of place locals know about but doesn't cram into guidebooks, and that's rather the appeal.

You can walk round it - takes about forty minutes at a decent pace - or simply park up and watch the light change across the water. There's nothing manufactured about it. No café, no visitor centre, no laminated boards telling you what birds you might spot. Just the lake, some trees, and the sound of whatever's actually living there.

Walkers will appreciate the circuit, and if you're stopping at any of the nearby parks - Holly Bush Caravan Park is barely two miles away - it's an easy leg-stretch that doesn't demand much planning. Families with restless kids might find an hour is about the limit before someone asks what's for lunch. Birdwatchers and photographers do genuinely turn up here, though you'll want to check conditions before the drive.

Fishing is possible on parts of it, but you'll need to confirm access and permits locally - the tourism office in Taunton can sort you out. Admission appears free, which is refreshing. Go early morning if you can; the lake's better with mist and low sun than it is at midday when it just looks like water.