Muddy Paws Fields (Trent)

The name says it all, really. Muddy Paws Fields near Yeovil is exactly what it sounds like - open grassland where dogs tear around like they've never seen mud before, and the locals seem perfectly happy with that. It's not manicured or tamed in any way. You get fields, sky, and the sort of space where a dog can actually run without a lead without causing a diplomatic incident.

Walkers will find decent paths cutting through, though depending on the season you'll either be splashing through puddles or kicking up dust. The terrain is gentle enough that it's manageable for most fitness levels, and there's something rather restorative about ambling through Somerset countryside without any particular destination. It's the kind of spot where you can see for miles if the weather's clear.

This is absolutely dog-owner territory. If you've got a retriever or a spaniel convinced it's a swan, this is where they'll be happiest. For non-dog families, it's less of a draw - there's no playground, no café, no historical bits to point at. You're coming for the walking and the open air, full stop.

When you're staying at Long Hazel Park just down the road, Muddy Paws Fields makes a proper free addition to your day. Twenty minutes from the caravan park and you've got a solid couple of hours of muddy contentment. Go midweek if you can - weekends pull in more walkers and it loses some of its peaceful quality.