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The Queens Arms - Corton Denham, Somerset

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Cosy, stylish countryside bolthole

For a proper countryside retreat, it would be hard to beat the Queen’s Arms at Corton Denham. In the middle of Dorset and Somerset’s rolling hills and approached by windy country lanes, this is a real wellies-off-and socks-in-front-of –the-fire kind of place. The décor is fab – flagstones in the bar area and a huge, much-used 18th century fireplace are mixed with light, stylish colours to keep things cosy but airy downstairs.

It's a theme that’s continued in the Queen's Arms' stylish bedrooms and beautiful bathrooms. Big, squidgy beds, sash windows overlooking the beautiful Somerset countryside, roll-top baths. crisp, Egyptian Cotton bed linen and comfy armchairs to curl up in with a good book - it's all cosy to the extreme.

But it’s the food that’s the best thing about this friendly bolthole. From the homemade pork pies stacked on the bar, to the hearty portions of fresh, British classics – think fish pie, calf’s liver and sausages and mash – everything is as locally-produced as possible and cooked to perfection.

Where is it?

Corton Denham itself is a lovely little Dorset/Somerset border village set in rolling hills and overlooked by the beautiful village church. There isn’t much to do in the village other than eating and drinking at The Queen’s Arms (no bad thing!), but there are ample opportunities for some great country walks. A great 6-mile circular walk right from the Queen's Arms' doorstep takes you up onto the ridge above the village, with some amazing views across the Dorset and Somerset countryside, and on to ancient Cadbury Castle. For maps and details of this walk and loads more in the area, log on to Walking World (www.walkingworld.com)

The stunning Dorset market town of Sherborne is just 4 miles away from Corton Denham - a medieval market town built in honeyed Dorset stone, with a gorgeous, bustling main street - Cheap Street - two castles and, right in the middle, stunning Sherborne Abbey. Originally a Saxon Cathedral, then a Benedictine Monastery, the Abbey was re-built in the 15th century as a jaw-dropping parish church - voted one of the most beautiful in England. As well as a great place to wander around, the Abbey is also home to its own Music Festival each May, with top names in classical music making the most of the great acoustics the cavernous interior provides. Log on to www.sherborneabbey.org for details of this year’s event.

Sherborne Castle (www.sherbornecastle.com Tel: 01935 813182) is the town’s other claim to fame. Built in 1594 by Sir Walter Raleigh, the handsome Elizabethan castle sits in 40 acres of glorious Capability Brown gardens and next to its own enormous lake. Perfect for aimless wandering and summer picnics, the castle and its grounds also play host to some great events throughout the year - open air theatre, concerts, fireworks and classic car shows. It’s also the venue for the famous Ironman UK Triathlon (www.ironmanuk.com) in September. Take an enormous picnic and relax, while hundreds of uber-fit lunatics run circles around you. Literally. Romantic weekenders (with an anorak) will love Sherborne’s Old Castle (www.english-heritage.org.uk Tel: 01935 812730) - the tumbling ruins of a 12th century palace, which later became an important Royalist stronghold in the Civil War. With stunning views across the town and the Dorset countryside beyond, it’s also a great base for walkers. For starters, the stroll through the castle grounds towards the pretty village of Goathill, just over a mile away, is especially pretty.

Sherborne itself is a potterer’s paradise, with a maze of little alleys, stunning Georgian facades and the Abbey grounds to explore, plus great shops and places to eat (one of our favourite places to browse aimlessly is Walkabout Books (www.walkaboutbooks.co.uk Tel: 01935 817 451), a tiny bookshop specialising in all things travel-related).

Sherborne is also a great jumping-off point for some of Dorset’s loveliest attractions. The very pretty 18th century village of Milton Abbas - considered to be the first ever planned town or village in England - is just 10 miles away, while the infamous, and extremely well-endowed, Cerne Abbas Giant (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) is carved into a chalk hill a little further away. According to folklore, women who want to conceive should spend a night on the Giant’s, well, ‘magic wand’, or couples can make love on the same spot for the same effect. If the thought of having kids scares you senseless, but you’re still keen to see an enormous, sexually-aroused, club-weilding giant, there are plenty of good vantage points well away from the fertility zone.

Where can I eat?

Not difficult... The Queen’s Arms is so good that locals travel from the nearby towns to eat there. Not only is the food fantastic, but there can be nothing better than enjoying a great meal and a bottle (or two) of vino, all within stumbling distance of your bed.

But if you do fancy something different, Sherborne is full of lovely cafes and delis - perfect for brunch, lunch and tea. Olivers (Tel: 01935 815005) on Cheap Street is a great place to chill out, read the paper and neck endless cups of coffee, while The Pear Tree (Tel: 01935 812828) on Half Moon Street, close to the Abbey, is a fantastic deli-cum-cafe serving fab lunches.

If it’s dinner you’re after, The Green (Tel: 01935 813821) is the best restaurant in town, serving Modern European dishes made with the freshest local and seasonal produce. Or you could try Bruton House (www.brutonhouse.co.uk Tel: 01749 813395) in pretty Bruton, 10 miles from Corton Denham, an award-winning restaurant with a particularly good lunch menu.

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For a gorgeous countryside retreat, it would be hard to beat the Queen’s Arms at Corton Denham. Rolling hills outside, stylishly-updated country inn decor on the inside, and stacks of home-made pork pies on the bar. Lovely.