Heath House

Heath House is too small to have hotels of its own, but its position between Wedmore, Wells and the Mendip Hills makes it a workable base for exploring this quiet corner of Somerset if you are happy to stay a short drive away. Nearby Wedmore has a handful of bed and breakfasts and holiday cottages, often set in converted farm buildings typical of the Somerset Levels, while the cathedral city of Wells, around nine miles east, offers a wider choice of hotels and guesthouses along with its historic streets and cathedral green.

Cheddar, on the western edge of the Mendip Hills, is another popular option, with hotels and guesthouses geared towards visitors to the gorge and caves, and it makes a good alternative base if you want to combine a Levels stay with some hill walking. Glastonbury, a little further south, adds its own choice of independent guesthouses and hotels alongside its market-town atmosphere and famous Tor.

Wherever you choose to stay, the flat lanes of the Levels make Heath House an easy, quiet detour rather than a destination in itself, best suited to visitors who want peaceful countryside close to hand while using Wedmore, Wells or Cheddar as their base for food, drink and evening entertainment.

Heath House itself has no attractions to speak of, but it sits within easy striking distance of some of Somerset's best-known sights.

• Wells Cathedral — England's first entirely Gothic cathedral, around nine miles east, with its famous scissor arches and medieval clock.
• Glastonbury Tor — the iconic hilltop tower visible for miles across the Levels, steeped in myth and legend, a short drive south.
• Mendip Hills AONB — the limestone ridge to the north offers walking, cycling and views back across the Levels, with Cheddar Gorge at its western end.
• Wedmore village — the nearest proper village, with a parish church, shops and pubs, just over a mile away.
• Somerset Levels wetlands — the flat, watery landscape around Westhay and Shapwick Heath is excellent for birdwatching, particularly winter starling murmurations.

There are no pubs, cafes or shops in Heath House itself. For food and drink, the nearest options are in Wedmore village, just over a mile away, which has a small selection of pubs and a village shop, with a wider choice of restaurants and cafes in Wells and Cheddar.

Heath House sits on the flat, low-lying Somerset Levels, which is not the easiest terrain for camping without the right preparation: the ground can be waterlogged for long stretches of the year, and there are no formal campsites in the hamlet itself. As with everywhere in England, wild camping is not permitted without the landowner's express permission, so any pitch needs to be at a licensed site or arranged directly with a farm or landowner.

The nearby Mendip Hills offer firmer, drier ground and a better prospect for campers, with a scatter of small campsites and farm-based sites within a short drive, particularly around Cheddar and the villages along the ridge. These tend to suit tents and small campervans rather than large touring outfits, and many are seasonal, so it is worth checking opening dates before setting off, especially outside the main summer months.

Late spring to early autumn is the most reliable window for camping in this part of Somerset, when the Levels are at their driest and the Mendip evenings are long and mild. Outside this window, the combination of rain and low-lying ground can make tent camping uncomfortable, and flooding is not unusual on the Levels themselves during a wet winter.

For those who would rather not pitch a tent, glamping offers a comfortable alternative and is increasingly common in this part of Somerset, with shepherd's huts, yurts and safari tents available at farm sites around Wedmore, Cheddar and the wider Mendip area. These give a taste of the outdoors, with the Mendip ridge for walking by day, without the risk of a soggy pitch if the Levels weather turns.