Charlton House  

Just across the road, the listed Thatched Cottage Inn produces simple, tasty dishes that will appeal to most palates (+44 (0)1749 342058). The sweetly unassuming Blostins Restaurant (closed Sundays and Mondays), also in Shepton Mallet, has seasonal and vegetarian menus with Anglo‑French leanings (+44 (0)1749 343648). The Old Spot restaurant in Wells is excellent and well worth making a detour for (+44 (0)1749 689099). Its formula is simple: provide delicious food – braised shoulder of lamb, ceviche of organic salmon with red chilli – at budget prices, and throw in a superb wine list, too.

A 15th‑century coaching house, The Talbot Inn in Mells (+44 (0)1373 812254) is nice for a low‑key Sunday lunch and serves fresh fish and game in season. Set in an idyllic 16th-century country cottage, The Wheatsheaf in Combe Hay is a gastropub so good it draws smart Bath residents out of town to its tables (+44 (0)1225 833504). The Three Horseshoes in Batcombe (+44 (0)1749 850359) is a traditional English pub with open fires. The Fox and Hounds in Tytherington (+44 (0)1373 473902) is a 17th-century inn in a pretty hamlet.

The hotel can organise horse riding and golf. Cheddar Gorge is touristy but also an area of outstanding beauty (www.cheddarcaves.co.uk). Wells is six miles away and Bath 19 miles away. Longleat (www.longleat.co.uk) has numerous attractions including the house, a safari park, a maze, a railway and more. Glastonbury Abbey (www.glastonburyabbey.com) is worth a look. Trout fishing is available at Temple Cloud (+44 (0)1761 452423), and golfing at the Isle of Wedmore (www.wedmoregolfclub.com).

May Bath International Music Festival (01225 463362; www.bathmusicfest.org.uk). August Glastonbury Classical Festival offers the more sedate side of the musical spectrum (01458 832020, www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/classical). Bristol International Balloon Fiesta  brings a mass of colourful hot-air-balloon launches (see our events guide Smith 52 for details, or buy the book for the full insider lowdown).