Cheddar Reservoir SSSI

Sprawling across 160 acres near Cheddar, this reservoir might not have the drama of the famous gorge but it delivers something altogether more peaceful. The SSSI designation means serious business for wildlife - kingfishers dart along the banks while herons stand motionless in the shallows, and the surrounding reedbeds buzz with warblers during summer months.

Birdwatchers will have a proper field day here, especially during spring and autumn migrations when anything might turn up. The walking is gentle, mostly flat paths that circuit the water, making it manageable for families with younger children or anyone wanting an easy ramble without the leg-burning climbs of nearby Mendip attractions.

Access can be a bit hit and miss - there's no visitor centre or formal car park, so you're relying on roadside parking near the dam wall. Best approached from the Cheddar side rather than trying to find your way through the maze of Somerset lanes from the east.

This works brilliantly as a morning or afternoon excursion from any of the nearby holiday parks like Cheddar Woods Resort or Petruth Paddocks. It's the sort of place that rewards a slow approach - bring binoculars if you have them, and don't expect Instagram-worthy panoramas. The reward here is in the details: dragonflies skimming the surface and the satisfying tick of spotting something new in your bird book.