Wellington Park

Wellington Park sits on the edge of the Blackdown Hills, a proper bit of Somerset countryside that most holidaymakers miss entirely. It's a nature reserve rather than a formal attraction, so don't expect manicured paths and visitor facilities - what you get instead is genuine woodland and scrub habitat where you might spot buzzards, nuthatches, or if you're lucky, a sparrowhawk cutting through the canopy.

The park sprawls across several hundred acres of mixed woodland and heathland. Walking trails crisscross the reserve, though they're not always signposted brilliantly, so bring a map or download the route beforehand. It takes a solid two to three hours to properly explore without rushing, though you could do a quick 45-minute loop if time's tight. Families with young children will manage the easier sections, but there are some steep bits that'll test the legs.

This is absolutely the place for serious walkers and anyone into birds or botany. If you're after Instagram moments or easy trails suitable for pushchairs, look elsewhere. Free to enter, and that's the whole appeal - no car park charges, no entry fees, just open moorland on your doorstep.

If you're based at Waterrow Touring Park or Holly Bush near Taunton, Wellington Park makes an excellent half-day excursion without straying far from your pitch. The reserve works best in spring when the birdsong's intense, or autumn when the light's golden. Summer midges can be brutal, fair warning.