Porlock Marsh

The flat stretch of land between Porlock village and the coast is one of those places that stops you mid-stride. This isn't a dramatic vista - it's a proper working marsh, drained centuries ago, where you'll spot marsh marigolds in spring and hear nothing but birdsong and the occasional farmer's tractor.

It's a walker's sort of place rather than a destination you'd rush to. The Porlock Weir footpath cuts straight through the middle, taking you from the village down to the coast in about an hour's stroll. Most people use it as a through-route on the way to Minehead, but standing in the middle watching the horizon and the birds, you realise why it matters. This landscape keeps the South West Coast Path interesting - you're not constantly scrambling up cliffs.

Historically minded visitors will appreciate that this marsh was reclaimed from the sea by medieval monks and farmers, and it's been managed that way ever since. There's something quite moving about walking on land that's been deliberately saved from water for a thousand years.

It won't hold your attention for hours on its own. But as part of a wider walk round Minehead and Porlock - linking it with the harder climbs of Selworthy Hill or a ramble along Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite area - it reads properly. Best visited in late spring when the wildflowers are out. Access is free and unrestricted. Allow an hour if you're crossing it, longer if you stop to birdwatch.