Photo: Geof Sheppard · CC BY-SA 4.0Parks and walks in Ruishton
The Blackdown Hills National Landscape begins 1.7 mi from the village’s edge. Parks and playing fields in Ruishton add up to 0.6 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. 60% of residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park or playing field. Ruishton grades C− for the outdoors. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
What kind of outdoors village is Ruishton?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Ruishton’s strongest suit is two protected landscapes close by. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Ruishton grades C− for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Ruishton, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
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Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Ruishton is 42nd of 60 UK villages its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 1,400 to 1,500 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Against villages its size, Ruishton stands out most for path per km²: only 18 of the other 59 have more. It falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 52 of the others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Runton and Beeston Regis Norfolk | A+ | 25 | 100% | 4.8 | 34% |
| 2 | Heathfield Devon | A+ | 20.4 | 100% | 3 | 30% |
| 3 | Sandridge Hertfordshire | A+ | 18.8 | 100% | 6.4 | 0% |
| 4 | Charlton Down Dorset | A | 4 | 100% | 2.3 | 58% |
| 5 | Newburn Tyne and Wear | A | 12.1 | 100% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 6 | Penrhyndeudraeth Gwynedd | A | 2.5 | 100% | 1 | 68% |
| 7 | Three Crosses West Glamorgan | A | 2.4 | 100% | 1.3 | 39% |
| 8 | Llandovery Dyfed | A− | 13.3 | 100% | 1 | 22% |
| 9 | Denham Buckinghamshire | A− | 5.7 | 100% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 10 | Knowle Hampshire | A− | 2 | 100% | 3.1 | 7% |
| 11 | Twyford Hampshire | A− | 6.8 | 49% | 3.3 | 44% |
| 12 | Little Kingshill Buckinghamshire | A− | 6.5 | 50% | 2.9 | 90% |
| 13 | Holme Cumbria | A− | 2.8 | 100% | 1.8 | 25% |
| 14 | Burnhope County Durham | B+ | 3.1 | 100% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 15 | Horspath Oxfordshire | B | 14 | 54% | 5 | 0% |
| 16 | Hellifield North Yorkshire | B | 1.3 | 100% | 2.2 | 38% |
| 17 | Staveley Cumbria | B | 1.7 | 85% | 2.5 | 89% |
| 18 | Alconbury Cambridgeshire | B | 5.1 | 100% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 19 | Pont Rhyd-y-cyff Mid Glamorgan | B | 4.9 | 100% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 20 | Houghton Cumbria | B | 1.7 | 100% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 21 | Wingrave Buckinghamshire | B− | 3.7 | 100% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 22 | Kingstone Herefordshire | B− | 3.1 | 100% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 23 | Kibblesworth Tyne and Wear | B− | 2.5 | 100% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 24 | Netherne on-the-Hill Surrey | B− | 1.6 | 40% | 5.9 | 19% |
| 25 | Gosfield Essex | C+ | 3.7 | 85% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 26 | Nether Stowey Somerset | C+ | 1.9 | 18% | 3 | 39% |
| 27 | Sutton Valence Kent | C+ | 5.6 | 71% | 1 | 1% |
| 28 | Killinghall North Yorkshire | C+ | 1 | 100% | 1.6 | 7% |
| 29 | Lavendon Buckinghamshire | C | 1.5 | 100% | 2 | 0% |
| 30 | Castor and Ailsworth Cambridgeshire | C | 3.4 | 41% | 3 | 0% |
| 31 | Connor Downs Cornwall | C | 0.5 | 79% | 0.7 | 8% |
| 32 | Barton Lancashire | C | 2.6 | 47% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 33 | Newborough Cambridgeshire | C | 2.1 | 100% | 0.1 | 0% |
| 34 | Eythorne Kent | C | 0.5 | 79% | 2.5 | 9% |
| 35 | Ticehurst East Sussex | C | 1.4 | 75% | 0.8 | 100% |
| 36 | Brabourne Lees Kent | C | 0.9 | 0% | 3.2 | 34% |
| 37 | Patrington East Riding of Yorkshire | C− | 3.6 | 79% | 0.4 | 0% |
| 38 | Warton Warwickshire | C− | 1.1 | 100% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 39 | Cogenhoe Northamptonshire | C− | 1.5 | 78% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 40 | Burniston North Yorkshire | C− | 0.1 | 0% | 0.9 | 49% |
| 41 | Hartwell Northamptonshire | C− | 1.2 | 59% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 42 | Ruishton Somerset | C− | 0.6 | 60% | 2.7 | 4% |
| 43 | Denbury Devon | C− | 2.8 | 24% | 0.7 | 3% |
| 44 | Marnhull Dorset | C− | 1.8 | 41% | 3 | 0% |
| 45 | Pontyberem Dyfed | C− | 4.7 | 58% | 0.4 | 0% |
| 46 | East Rainton Tyne and Wear | D | 1.4 | 34% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 47 | Hook East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 1.1 | 19% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 48 | North Somercotes Lincolnshire | D | 1.7 | 44% | 0.7 | 0% |
| 49 | Pontyates Dyfed | D | 4.6 | 39% | 0.7 | 0% |
| 50 | Flore Northamptonshire | D | 1.6 | 62% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 51 | Westonzoyland Somerset | D | 3.1 | 30% | 1.2 | 0% |
| 52 | Copplestone Devon | D | 1.1 | 88% | 0.9 | 0% |
| 53 | Oakington Cambridgeshire | D | 2.1 | 52% | 1.6 | 0% |
| 54 | Gosberton Lincolnshire | D | 1.1 | 86% | 0.1 | 0% |
| 55 | Four Crosses Powys | D− | 1.9 | 53% | 0.8 | 0% |
| 56 | Badersfield Norfolk | D− | 0.3 | 53% | 1 | 2% |
| 57 | Sturton by Stow Lincolnshire | D− | 1.7 | 41% | 1 | 0% |
| 58 | Guilden Sutton Cheshire | D− | 0.3 | 56% | 1.7 | 0% |
| 59 | Shadwell West Yorkshire | D− | 0.3 | 25% | 2 | 0% |
| 60 | Woodford Northamptonshire | D− | 0 | 0% | 1.5 | 0% |
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Ruishton’s built-up area.
6 in 10 Ruishton residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
About 600 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 31 playgrounds are mapped in and around the village, about one for every 48 residents.
Blackdown Hills and Quantock Hills both start about 3 miles from Ruishton
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
Blackdown Hills
4% of the land within 5 km of Ruishton is National Park or National Landscape, more than 66% of UK towns. Exmoor National Park covers 693 km² and has been a National Park since 1954.
2 waymarked walks pass through or near Ruishton
26 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Ruishton and the kilometre around it, 2.7 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the village.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
The best walking months in Ruishton: May to September
The village’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | 9 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 9 |
| Rain (mm) | 81 | 58 | 55 | 53 | 52 | 53 | 47 | 59 | 54 | 85 | 89 | 86 |
July is the driest month (47 mm) and the warmest (highs of 22 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 89 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 33 nights a year. The climate in Ruishton →
31 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the village in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK village its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Ruishton is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the village.
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Playgrounds 31
Plus 31 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 1
Campsites 3
Plus 1 campsite without a name on the map.
Slipways 2
Plus 2 slipways without a name on the map.
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruishton | C− | 0.6 | 60% | 4% |
| Creech St Michael 0.8 mi | B− | 1.2 | 88% | 0% |
| Monkton Heathfield 1.4 mi | A | 2.4 | 100% | 8% |
| Taunton 2.3 mi | B | 1.2 | 80% | 16% |
| North Curry 3.3 mi | A | 6.2 | 100% | 0% |
| Trull 3.4 mi | A+ | 5.9 | 100% | 20% |
| Norton Fitzwarren 4.3 mi | C+ | 1.3 | 35% | 6% |
Trull, 3.4 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Monkton Heathfield, Taunton and North Curry have at least twice Ruishton’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Ruishton
Is Ruishton near a National Park?
Yes. Exmoor National Park begins 12 mi north-west of the village’s edge. It covers 693 km² and has been a National Park since 1954. The nearest protected landscape of any kind is the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, 1.7 mi away.
What are the best walks near Ruishton?
2 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the village, including the Somerset Space Walk and Herepath Trail - Thurlbear.
What is the nearest beach to Ruishton?
Berrow Sands, 15 mi from the edge of the village, then Church Cliff Beach (20 mi). Ruishton itself is inland.
How many people in Ruishton live near a park?
60% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Ruishton?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Ruishton good for walking?
About average for paths: 2.7 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 50% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 6% (0.6 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Ruishton’s overall grade.
Where Ruishton’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.