Sir Bevil Grenville

The monument to Sir Bevil Grenville sits on a quiet stretch of moorland near Bath, marking the spot where this Royalist commander fell during the English Civil War. It's a simple affair - a stone cross standing alone against the Somerset sky - but the location itself tells the story better than any plaque could. You get a proper sense of the landscape he knew, the fields and slopes that mattered enough to fight for.

This isn't a place to spend hours. Twenty minutes with the monument, maybe another thirty if you fancy a walk across the moor and back to the car. History enthusiasts will find it worth tracking down, particularly if you're interested in the Civil War period or local Cornish-Somerset connections. Families with young children might find it underwhelming - there's no visitor centre, no interpretation beyond the monument itself, and nowhere to sit down with an ice cream.

The real value is contextual. If you're staying at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat or exploring the area around Bath, this works as a half-hour diversion rather than a destination in itself. The moorland walk is pleasant enough in decent weather, though it's exposed - windier than you'd expect once you're out there. Go on a clear day if possible; the views back towards Bath are worth the detour.

Free to visit, and you'll need your own transport to reach it. Combine it with a stroll through Bath itself or another spot in the area - standing alone on the moor is atmospheric, but it works best as part of a wider exploration rather than a sole reason to visit Somerset.