North Somerset

North Somerset runs from the wide, muddy reaches of the Severn Estuary up into the limestone folds of the Mendip Hills, and that contrast shapes everything about the area. The coast here is tidal and dramatic rather than sandy in the postcard sense, with big skies and long views across to Wales, while inland the ground rises quickly into farmland, woods and quiet lanes. It is a landscape of two moods, and staying here usually means picking whether you want to wake up near the water or tucked into the hills.

Days out tend to follow the landscape's lead. The coast draws walkers along its paths and birdwatchers to the estuary's mudflats, while the Mendips offer proper hill walking, with steep short climbs rewarded by views back down over the water. Between the two there is plenty of gentler countryside to wander through, and the villages themselves, many built from the local limestone, are worth slow exploring on foot.

It is an area that works well for a few days of contrast: a coastal walk one morning, a hill climb the next, a decent meal each evening. Basing yourself in one of the cottages and moving between the two landscapes is really the best way to get a feel for what North Somerset is about.