Somerset’s landscapes are steeped in legend, from the lush fields of ‘Avalon’ to Cheddar Gorge and the wilds of Exmoor. The winding, country lanes hold secrets: a spectacular gathering of birds at sunset; a cave filled with fertility symbols; a farm taken over by huge sculptures.
The local food scene is flourishing, involving everyone from Michelin-star chefs to foragers on the Mendip Hills and farmers selling cheddar and cider from the barn door.
Glastonbury Festival shines as the centre of the musical universe in June – but the region is becoming known for much more than this. Quiet, agrarian villages are now fashionable places in which to eat brunch, buy designer ceramics and paddleboard down river. Bruton has an internationally-renowned art gallery and the county’s hip, country house hotels, from Soho House and Babylonstoren, are some of the UK’s most desirable.
What makes Somerset so exciting is that it preserves a bucolic way of life while keeping its finger firmly on the pulse.
For further Somerset inspiration, see our guides to the region’s best hotels, things to do, restaurants and pubs.