Stoberry Park Gardens

The moment you push through the gates at Stoberry Park Gardens, near Wells, you're in proper Somerset countryside - think mature woodland, open meadows, and the kind of peaceful that makes you wonder why you don't come here more often. It's a nature reserve that actually feels like a nature reserve, not some manicured attraction desperate to squeeze entry fees out of you.

You get woodland walks through mixed trees, open grassland where you might spot deer if you're lucky, and plenty of spots where you can just sit and watch birds do their thing. There's a pond area too, which in spring and early summer absolutely hums with life - dragonflies, newts, the lot. It's the sort of place where families with restless kids can actually let them burn off energy without worrying they'll wreck something, and where serious birdwatchers and naturalists genuinely find something to get excited about.

Allow a couple of hours minimum if you want to properly explore the trails rather than just poke about for half an hour. Early morning is prime time for spotting wildlife - the trade-off being you'll need to get up before the sun does. The reserve is free to access and seems to have no fixed opening hours, which means you can visit on your own schedule.

If you're based at Cathedral View Glamping, Wells Touring Park, or any of the nearby sites - even Old Oaks Touring further out - Stoberry Park is close enough for a morning ramble before heading elsewhere around Wells. It won't dominate your holiday itinerary, but it's exactly the kind of quiet, genuine spot that makes a park holiday genuinely restorative.