Rose Cottage Muchelney

A mix of timber cladding and creamy-coloured stone, this pretty holiday property is located amid the countryside close to Langport, claimed to be the smallest town in England. Enjoy walks and bike rides at the water’s edge along the River Parrett, picnic in the Walter Bagehot Town Garden or get an authentic taste of local life in one of the town’s friendly inns and eateries.

A mile from your doorstep, Mulcheney is home to English Heritage-managed abbey ruins alongside magnificent abbots’ lodgings and a unique monks’ lavatory. Close by, the village pottery creates an iconic range of stoneware pots – book a workshop tour or visit the shop for holiday souvenirs to treasure.

Further afield, must-see sites include Glastonbury Tor (15.5 miles), county town Taunton (16 miles) and, beyond, the Quantock Hills National Landscape. For a breath of sea air, Burnham-on-Sea (25 miles) has one of the longest sandy beaches in Europe and traditional attractions to amuse all ages.

Set back from the road within gated grounds, the modest facade of this one-off holiday home gives little clue as to the attentively detailed and fabulously decorative spaces inside. The property is perfectly private, though the owner’s friendly dogs, children and the odd chicken or two may well pop by to say hello – you can expect a fully immersive country-living experience while you’re here!

Once indoors, the entrance hall has a handy cloakroom and leads into the main living space. Boldly coloured and warmly welcoming, the open-plan layout includes a repurposed-style kitchen and comfortable lounge complete with a Smart TV and wood burner.

The colour palette becomes more vibrant as you move into the spacious garden room where you can choose to sit around the dining room table, or sit and read from the selection of books. It features large windows looking onto the lawn beyond.