The Bagatelle

The Bagatelle sits just outside Minehead, a proper Victorian folly that catches you off guard when you spot it. It's this strange, octagonal tower rising up from the Somerset landscape - built in the 1830s as an ornamental structure and now Grade II listed. You can't actually get inside, but that's not really the point. The appeal is entirely in the looking at it and working out why on earth someone thought this was a good idea to build.

It's the sort of place that appeals to architecture buffs and anyone who enjoys Victorian eccentricity. Kids will find it mildly interesting for five minutes, maybe take a photo, but there's not much to do once you're there. Walkers using the paths around Minehead might stumble upon it almost by accident, which is when it works best - as a strange surprise rather than a planned detour.

The real value here is as a quick stop if you're based at one of the holiday parks nearby. Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is only 5.4 miles away, as is Butlins if you're after something livelier. On a coastal break around Exmoor, you could combine this with walks down to the seafront or inland trails. It takes fifteen minutes, maybe a bit of light stretching if you park poorly. Go if you're already in the area and fancy something oddly Victorian. Don't make a special trip.