Ravens Rock

The scramble up to Ravens Rock isn't long, but it's steep enough that you'll feel it in your legs. Once you're standing at the top near Bath, the view across Somerset opens out properly - rolling countryside in all directions, and on a clear day you can see well beyond the immediate landscape. It's the sort of place where you understand why people settled here centuries ago.

This is walkers' territory rather than a casual stroll destination. You're looking at maybe 45 minutes to an hour round trip depending on fitness, and the final push to the summit involves a bit of scrambling over rock. The reward is genuine though - far better than those flat viewing platforms that promise everything and deliver a car park view.

Take it on a weekday if you can. Weekends bring Bath day-trippers who've wandered off the main tourist circuit, and the narrow approach gets congested. Weather matters here too. Fog rolls in fast in Somerset, so go when there's actual visibility or you're just clambering through cloud for views of bugger all.

If you're based at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, Ravens Rock works as a proper outing rather than a quick tick-box. Combine it with a walk through the surrounding countryside rather than treating it as an isolated visit. The rock itself takes maybe 20 minutes to appreciate, so structure your day around the landscape, not the viewpoint.