Goblin Combe

The path down into Goblin Combe feels properly secretive - limestone cliffs rise up either side, and the stream cuts through a narrow wooded gorge that could swallow you whole on a grey day. It's a Somerset nature reserve that doesn't announce itself loudly, which is exactly why it works.

You're looking at woodland walks along the water, steep sides thick with ash and beech, and the kind of quiet that makes you actually notice birdsong. The gorge opens out as you head deeper in, revealing the wider valley floor. It's not vast - you can walk the main paths in an hour or so - but there's something about the vertical drama of it that stays with you longer than the time suggests.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's proper terrain underfoot, muddy in places, and the handrails on the steeper bits are there for a reason. Families with younger kids might find the walk a touch too technical, though teenagers who don't mind roots and mud will be fine. The geology alone - those combe walls - makes it worth a visit if you're into that sort of thing.

Free entry, no visitor centre or facilities to speak of. Go when it's not been raining for days unless you fancy very wet boots. It works beautifully as a morning outing if you're based at one of the nearby campsites like Somerset Glamping or Mendip Basecamp, just south of Bristol. Pair it with walks across the Mendips proper if you're after a fuller day out.