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Greenham Hall - Greenham

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Gothic retreat in the heart of Somerset

If you’re looking for a complete escape from the rat-race, you can’t do much better than beautiful Greenham Hall. Look at their visitors’ guest book, and the only complaint you’ll find is that it’s so quiet at night that the dawn chorus becomes mother nature’s alarm clock. The magnificent Victorian Country House sits in the middle of rolling countryside on the edge of the Blackdown Hills, while the Hall’s gorgeous gardens are a rural idyll in themselves.

The house is a jumble of huge stained glass windows and gothic turrets, all lovingly restored by the current owners. The comfy en-suite bedrooms are light, airy and decorated simply, leaving those amazing panoramic views to do the talking. Breakfast is hearty and delicious, and perfect for fuelling up for a day’s walking, or blissful hours losing yourself in the hidden corners of the Hall’s gardens.

Where is it?

Greenham sits close to the Somerset/Devon border, and to the untrained eye may seem totally in the middle of nowhere... bliss. The closest town is Wellington, 4 miles away - home to the soaring Wellington Monument (www.nationaltrust.org.uk Tel: 01823 662855), built to celebrate The Duke’s victory at Waterloo. The walk to the monument is beautiful, and offers some glorious views. Pop into Wellington Tourist Office (Tel: 01823 663379) for a map and directions. Wellington is also being groomed as Somerset’s number one ‘food town’, with a brilliant Food Festival in the summer (www.wellingtonfoodtown.co.uk Tel: 01823 356485) and lots of great local produce for sale in the town all year round.

But the area around Greenham Hall is, primarily, fantastic walking territory. The lovely remains of the Grand Western Canal runs close to Greenham, and provide a beautiful and convenient walking route towards Tiverton in Devon. For a rather less energetic way to enjoy the canal, board an authentic horse-drawn barge at Tiverton (www.horseboat.co.uk Tel: 01884 253345), 12 miles from Greenham. The Blackdown Hills, just to the south of Greenham Hall, offer miles of walking trails. Cyclists can rent a bike at King’s Cycles (www.kingscycles.co.uk Tel: 01823 662260) in Wellington, while fans of four legs should visit Heazle Riding Centre (www.heazle.co.uk Tel: 01823 680 280), 7 miles from Greenham, for escorted hacks in the Hills. For more rugged terrain, head 16 miles in the other direction to the enormous Exmoor National Park. The Walking Britain website (www.walkingbritain.co.uk) is a great place to look for full descriptions and maps of walks on Exmoor.

Alternatively, for a brilliant day out, visit the West Somerset Railway (www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk Tel: 01643 704996) in Bishops Lydeard, 11 miles from Greenham, and catch a steam train for a romantic trip to the seaside. The trains stop at the lovely little harbour town of Watchet, the long and sandy Blue Anchor Beach and the pretty medieval village of Dunster. Get off here and visit gorgeous Dunster Castle (www.nationaltrust.org.uk Tel: 01643 823004), a romantic, turretted affair with jaw-dropping gardens and fantastic views over Exmoor and the Bristol Channel.

Where can I eat?

There are two lovely pubs within 2 miles of Greenham Hall that offer great pub grub - The Globe Inn in Appley (Tel: 01823 672327) and The Prince of Wales Inn (Tel: 01823 672070) in pretty Holcombe Rogus, next to the Grand Western Canal.

For a bigger range of eating options, the Somerset County town of Taunton is just 11 miles from Greenham, and has some great restaurants. The wonderful Willow Tree (Tel: 0844 567 2391), hidden away in the narrow Taunton back streets, is cosy, elegant and romantic, with impeccable culinary credentials - Head Chef Darren Sherlock was once a Roux Brothers protege. The dishes are colourful and vibrant, with fresh British produce given a continental twist, and the puddings are to die for - no wonder Willow Tree is winning awards left, right and centre.

But it’s the Restaurant at The Castle Hotel (www.the-castle-hotel.com Tel: 01823 272671) that has made Taunton a bit of a gastronomic mecca. Often named as one of the best places to eat in the UK, this Michelin-starred, multi-multi award-winning dining room serves British food at its best. A huge list of local suppliers provide the freshest ingredients, while Head Chef Richard Guest (his predecessors include Gary Rhodes) has used them to create a simple, but elegantly mouthwatering menu. Book way ahead...

Back on Planet Earth, picnic lovers need go no further than nearby Wellington for the best supplies. The Cheese and Wine Shop (www.thecheeseandwineshop.co.uk Tel: 01823 662899) does what it says on the tin and much more besides.

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If you’re looking for a complete escape from the rat-race, you can’t do much better than beautiful Greenham Hall - a magnificent Victorian Country House in the middle of rolling Somerset countryside.