Beacon Hill

The walk up Beacon Hill from Watchet rewards you with one of the best views across the Bristol Channel you'll find in Somerset. It's a proper climb - steep enough to warm you up, not so brutal you'll regret it by the halfway point. The summit sits at around 300 metres, and on a clear day you're looking out towards Wales and the sweep of the coast in both directions.

What you're actually doing is following moorland paths up open Somerset countryside. There's no grand monument or visitor centre at the top, just the view and whatever peace you've earned getting there. It takes most people 45 minutes to an hour from the bottom. Bring decent footwear because it gets boggy after rain, and the wind picks up properly once you're exposed.

Historically this was a beacon site - hence the name - used to signal warnings across the water. These days it's brilliant for walkers wanting a proper work-out without needing to drive hours to Exmoor. Families with older kids will manage it fine. If you've got toddlers expecting a gentle stroll, this isn't it.

Watchet itself sits just down the hill, a small coastal town with a harbour. Stay at Haven Doniford Bay or Moorhouse Campsite - both within 2.4 miles - and you've got Beacon Hill as a morning mission, then the afternoon free for exploring the town or heading to Warren Bay if the weather holds. Free to visit, no facilities on the hill itself, so take water.