Wedmore

A broad street lined with independent shops and proper Somerset stone buildings sets the tone for this market town that sits proudly on what was once an island surrounded by marshland. Today, Wedmore feels refreshingly unhurried - the sort of place where you'll still find a traditional butcher and baker trading alongside contemporary galleries like Sword. The weekly market still draws farmers from across the Somerset Levels.

Walking the elevated position reveals why this settlement thrived for centuries. The surrounding Somerset Levels stretch out like a vast green quilt, dotted with drainage channels that glint in the afternoon sun. It's proper countryside - the kind where you'll spot herons fishing and hear skylarks overhead. Westhay Moor Nature Reserve lies just north, offering some of the finest birdwatching in the West Country, while the Avalon Marshes Visitor Centre provides excellent insight into this unique wetland landscape.

For a different perspective, head to Lascot Hill where the views across the levels are simply cracking. History buffs will appreciate the Lake Village archaeological site, evidence of Iron Age settlement in these fertile marshlands. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round at Isle of Wedmore Golf Course, which makes the most of the area's natural drainage.

Getting here is straightforward - Wedmore sits about 20 miles south of Bristol via the M5 and A38. The nearest railway station is at Highbridge, roughly eight miles away. Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense - you're ideally placed for day trips to Glastonbury, Cheddar Gorge, and the Quantock Hills, while having this unspoiled corner of Somerset as your base.