Haselbury Mill

Inspired by all the bits of the past on display around the estate? There’s plenty more nearby. On a rather grander scale than your digs (fab though they are) are the smart stately homes of Montacute House, a Tudor pile with gorgeous formal gardens (15 minutes’ drive) and Barrington Court, home to a walled garden and orchard (20 minutes). Orchards are a fairly common sight around these parts, and their offerings go towards creating the famed Somerset cider. Sample a sip or several at Burrow Hill Cider (20 minutes) – they’ve been pressing the stuff for more than 200 years so they know a thing or two. If you fancy a snifter of something stronger, their cider brandy is worth trying too. Burrow further back in history with a trip to Glastonbury Tor (half an hour) to hear tales of King Arthur and Excalibur; or delve into the age of the dinosaurs down at the Jurassic Coast. Charmouth beach (half an hour) still harbours ancient fossils, for those who know where to look (and that’d be in the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre if you’re not lucky with seeking out your own).