The Italian Gardens

The Italian Gardens near Burnham-on-Sea are a genuine surprise if you're staying at one of the local caravan parks - the kind of place you stumble upon and wonder how it's not more crowded. What you get is a proper nature reserve with formal gardens laid out in the Italian style, complete with structured planting and water features that feel a world away from the Somerset levels surrounding them.

It's the sort of spot where garden enthusiasts will spend a good couple of hours pottering about, reading the plant labels and actually taking time to sit on a bench. Families with younger kids might find an hour enough before they start asking for the car, but if you've got walkers in the group, it works nicely as a gentle morning wander before heading to the beach at Brean or Burnham itself. The formal layout means there's less "proper walking" than you'd get at a country estate, but that's not the point here.

Access details weren't entirely clear when checking, so ring ahead to confirm opening hours and whether there's an entrance fee - nature reserves can be a bit informal about these things. Given its proximity to Channel View Touring Park and the other holiday bases along this stretch, it's well worth factoring into a few days around Brean. The contrast between manicured Italian design and the wild Somerset landscape makes it oddly memorable, even if it's only a quick diversion from your caravan.