Wavering Down

Rolling green contours stretch endlessly across the Mendip Hills from this proper Somerset viewpoint, though you'll need to earn your panorama with a decent climb. Wavering Down sits between Winscombe and the famous Cheddar Gorge, offering one of those walks where the effort genuinely pays off in spades.

Families with older kids will manage the ascent well enough, but this isn't pushchair territory. The paths can get muddy after rain, so decent boots are essential. What you get at the top makes up for any huffing and puffing - views that sweep across the Somerset Levels on clear days, with the Bristol Channel glinting in the distance.

Walkers and photographers will get the most from Wavering Down, particularly those staying at nearby sites like Cheddar Woods Resort or Mendip Basecamp. Allow a couple of hours for the round trip, longer if you fancy exploring the ridge. Early morning or late afternoon light transforms the landscape into something rather special.

It's free, naturally, and accessible year-round though winter conditions can make the going slippery. The down works brilliantly as part of a Mendip Hills holiday, especially when combined with underground adventures at Cheddar Caves or gentle pottering around Winscombe village below.