Brunel Premier Elegance Lodge 2

This is one of the bigger lodges at Cheddar Woods, and you notice the space as soon as you walk in. The open-plan living area runs wide, with a modern kitchen along one side and a comfortable lounge with a 40-inch flatscreen on the other. There is a proper dining table large enough for a full spread, and the kitchen is well stocked with everything you need to cook without compromise. One of those lodges where nobody feels on top of each other, even on a rainy afternoon.

The master bedroom has a king-size bed and an en suite shower room, so you get that separation from the rest of the lodge. A twin room handles the second pair, and between them, the main bathroom has a touch you will not find in most lodges: a freestanding bath with a TV mounted above it. Run a bath after a day walking the Gorge, flick something on, and there is no rush to get out. It is a small luxury that makes a real difference on a cold evening.

Outside is where the Brunel really comes into its own. The decking sits high on the hillside, with the Somerset levels spread out below in a wide arc. On a still evening, the skyline reaches further than it has any right to. There is a gas BBQ out here for proper al fresco cooking, an outdoor dining set, and a hot tub to sink into once the plates are cleared. Late evenings on this deck are hard to beat, the sky cooling overhead while the hot tub bubbles beside you.

Cheddar Woods Resort runs a heated indoor pool with a children's pool alongside it, a sauna, a steam room, and the Eden Spa for treatments with Aromatherapy Associates products. Slots fill up fast, so book ahead if the spa is on your list. On-site, there is also a bar and bistro, and through the summer months, a log-fired pizza oven runs outdoors. There is a climbing wall and adventure playground for children, plus Go Active sessions if they still have energy to burn.

The resort sits at the edge of Cheddar village, and the Gorge itself is barely a mile down the road. The cliffs rise steeply, and the walks above are worth every step. Wookey Hole is about 8 miles away, and Brean Down gives you a beach day at 13 miles. Glastonbury Tor is a 15-mile drive and worth it for the climb, and Wells Cathedral is a trip in itself. Bath is roughly 25 miles. Check-in is from 2 pm, earlier than most of the park, which means a longer first afternoon on that deck.