Great Hill

The walk up Great Hill from Holford is steep, proper steep, but the payoff is genuine. You're climbing into the Quantock Hills here, and the views back across Somerset flatten out in front of you once you crest the top. On a clear day you can see right across to Exmoor. The summit itself is exposed moorland - wind-scoured grass, nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. It takes roughly an hour to get up depending on your fitness, and another hour down if you're taking it steady.

It's a walk that suits serious walkers more than casual Sunday strollers. Families with young kids will find it a slog, and the reward at the top is landscape rather than an ice cream van. There's no infrastructure up there - no café, no gift shop, no visitor centre. Just heather, views, and the actual Welsh coast visible on exceptional days.

You'll find this walk works nicely as part of a longer Quantock ramble. If you're staying at one of the nearby spots - Doniford Bay is less than six miles away, and the various farms dotted around Holford offer quieter options - you can easily link Great Hill into a half-day expedition. Spring and early summer are best; winter can be brutal and muddy. The whole area is free access, so just show up with proper boots and a map. Don't rely on phone signal up there.