Langford Premier

Sitting high on the Cheddar Woods hillside, the Langford Premier looks out across open Somerset countryside toward Glastonbury Tor. That view is genuine. On a clear morning, the Tor's silhouette sits sharp on the skyline, and on a still evening, you watch the colour drain out of the hills from the hot tub. The lodge is positioned in the upper reaches of the park, and the elevation makes all the difference.

Inside, three bedrooms give six people proper space. Two king-size rooms handle couples or parents comfortably, with the master opening onto an en suite shower room so mornings start without a queue. A twin room works well for children, or a third pair of adults, and a family bathroom with bath and overhead shower sits between the bedrooms. Beds are solidly comfortable across the board, and the lodge runs clean and tidy throughout. Small touches are left out on arrival: soap, dishwasher tablets, the sort of thing that tells you someone has thought about it.

The open-plan living area flows easily between the kitchen, dining space, and lounge. A fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, and wine cooler mean the kitchen punches well above holiday-let weight, and the flatscreen TV covers evenings when the weather drives you in. Patio doors open from the living area straight onto the deck, so inside and outside blur on a warm afternoon. It is a lodge that runs well for a weekend and just as well for a full week.

Cheddar Woods keeps you busy without needing the car keys. An indoor heated pool has a children's section alongside it, and a sauna and steam room sit behind reception. The Eden Spa does proper treatments with Aromatherapy Associates and Dermalogica products; popular slots go early, so ring reception once your dates are confirmed. The Bistro works for dinner when nobody fancies cooking, and from March through August, a log-burning pizza oven lights up outside. A climbing wall, playground, and Go Active programme keep younger ones moving, and Premier guests check in from 2 pm, two hours before the rest of the park.

Cheddar Gorge is practically on the resort's doorstep. The trails above the cliffs give you the drama, and the cave systems underneath give you the cool air and the stalactites. The village itself has been producing Cheddar cheese since the twelfth century, and the Bath Arms Inn is the natural lunch stop along the way. Wookey Hole and its cave network are 8 miles out, and Brean Down gives you a proper beach at 13 miles. Glastonbury Tor, visible from your own deck, is 15 miles and a stiff climb to the summit, with views that justify the effort. Wells and its Gothic cathedral are close, and the Roman Baths in Bath sit about 25 miles away.

The hot tub gets checked daily by the resort team, so the water is fresh and the jets are running by the time you step in each evening. With the Tor catching the last of the light ahead of you and the Mendip ridge at your back, these evenings are the ones you end up talking about on the drive home.