Smith & Evans Winery

The Somerset Levels aren't known for vineyards, which is precisely why Smith & Evans Winery catches you off guard. Tucked near Langport, this working winery sits where you'd expect to see willow trees and watermeadows instead. It's a proper operation - they actually grow grapes on-site and produce wine, which feels unlikely given the climate but somehow works.

What you get here depends entirely on whether they're open for visits (ring ahead, as opening times aren't fixed online). On a good day, you can walk the vineyard, see how they've managed to coax decent fruit from Somerset clay, and taste what they've made. The wines won't rival the Rhône, but they're respectable and there's something satisfying about drinking local.

This suits wine enthusiasts far more than casual visitors - you need genuine interest in winemaking to get two hours out of the place. Kids will find it dull unless they're old enough to care about fermentation. Walkers often pop in as part of a Levels circuit, though the winery itself isn't a destination you'd trek ten miles for.

Thornhills Holiday Park and Thorney Lakes are both close by if you're staying put, and the flatter terrain makes it easy to combine with a vineyard visit. The real appeal is the oddness of it - Somerset wine is a conversation starter, not a destination draw. Worth investigating if you're already in the area, but don't reroute your holiday around it.