The Hawn

The Hawn is a proper little lake just outside Minehead, the sort of place locals know about but most holiday makers miss entirely. It's a freshwater lake that sits quietly in the Somerset landscape, good for a walk around the perimeter and a bit of fishing if you've got a rod with you. The water's clear enough to see into, and on a decent day it's genuinely peaceful - no crowds, no noise, just the sound of whatever waterfowl happen to be about.

This is one for walkers and anyone after a break from the beach rather than a full-blown attraction. You can manage a circuit of the lake in less than an hour, which makes it ideal if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Butlins Minehead or Haven Doniford Bay and want to stretch your legs without going far. Families with young children will find it manageable, though there's not much else here to keep them occupied afterwards - it's genuinely just a lake and a walk.

What you won't find is a visitor centre or any facilities to speak of, so come prepared. Free to access, as far as locals will tell you, and best visited in the shoulder seasons when the weather's reasonable but not scorching. Summer weekends can get a bit busy with day-trippers from Minehead itself. If you're after somewhere quiet and low-key to break up a seaside holiday, it does the job. Just don't expect fireworks.