Surridge Farmhouse

Surridge Farmhouse sits in a ring fence of 80 acres on the edge of Exmoor in the Brendon Hills, surrounded by its own pasture and woodland. The land rolls away from the south-facing patio in every direction, and on a clear day, the views just keep going. There is no through traffic, no neighbours in sight, and no light pollution worth mentioning. Buzzards circle overhead during the day, bats appear at dusk, and owls take the night shift.

The farmhouse itself is properly old, with beamed ceilings, original window seats, and the kind of thick stone walls that keep things cool in August and hold warmth in January. The lounge stretches 29 feet with a fireplace at either end, so even with nine people spread across sofas and armchairs, nobody is fighting for the warm spot. A wood-burning stove in the dining room handles dinner service on cold evenings, and the kitchen runs on an AGA alongside a conventional oven for anyone who prefers predictable temperatures. Toast from the AGA, though, is worth the learning curve.

Upstairs, five bedrooms sit off the original half-turn staircase. The master double has long views across the fields and a shower room to itself. Two more doubles, a twin, and a single room fill out the rest, with two further bathrooms between them. Beds are comfortable, linen is included, and there are extra blankets in every room for anyone who likes to pile them on.

The games room earns its keep on rainy afternoons. Table football, bean bags, and a stack of board games give restless children (and competitive adults) something to do that does not involve a screen. Outside, the 80 acres are the real draw. Walk up through the woodland to the Iron Age fort on the hilltop for a scramble and a view that puts everything into perspective. Deer in the garden first thing in the morning is not unusual. The farmhouse tap water comes from a pure source on the land, which is worth knowing before you load up on bottled water at the supermarket.

Wiveliscombe is the nearest town, about four miles away, with a butcher and a handful of independent shops to keep a self-catering week well stocked. The Lethbridge Arms does a superb Thai menu that caters well for families, vegans included, and is well worth the short drive. Hestercombe Gardens, with its 40 acres of woodland walks and three distinct period gardens, makes an easy half-day out, and Knightshayes Court is another strong National Trust option nearby. North Somerset's coast is about half an hour by car, with Dulverton and Bampton both within easy reach for a change of scene.

Two dogs are welcome, and four cars fit off-road at the house. The driveway is steep, so follow the owner's directions rather than the sat nav, which tends to route you down narrow single-track lanes.

The illuminated hot tub sits on the south-facing patio, fitting six comfortably. On a still evening after the kids have gone up, the dark skies out here are properly dark, and the only sound is whatever is moving through the fields.