Swan Lodge Castle Farm

Most lodges promise countryside views. Swan Lodge delivers alpacas wandering past your patio fence at breakfast and a decommissioned Sea Harrier jump jet you can actually sit in. It is that kind of place.

The lodge sits on Castle Farm, a mile outside the village of Wedmore, looking out across the Somerset Levels with Glastonbury Tor rising in the distance. It is one of four lodges on the farm, but each is carefully angled so you never feel overlooked or hear a sound from the others. The open countryside rolls out in every direction, and the silence at night is the real thing.

Inside, bi-fold doors in the living area pull the view right into the room. The open-plan kitchen, dining, and sitting space fills with natural light, and the kitchen is properly kitted out with an electric oven and hob, dishwasher, microwave, washer/dryer, and a fridge-freezer. Underfloor heating keeps the whole lodge warm even in the dead of winter.

Three bedrooms sleep six. A king-size upstairs has a private en-suite with a shower. Downstairs, a second king-size and a children's bunk room share a wet room. It is a layout that works well for families, keeping the kids on the same level while giving the adults a floor to themselves.

Step outside to a sheltered patio with a private hot tub. This is where the setting earns its keep. Soak in the evenings with the Levels stretching out ahead of you, Glastonbury Tor catching the last of the light, and on clear nights, skies dark enough to pick out constellations you forget exist. The patio is enclosed, which means the dog can roam safely while you sit in the tub.

Jeffrey, Percy, and Albert the alpacas live in the field next door, along with Dottie and Minnie the miniature horses. They are genuinely part of the experience here and tend to wander over to the fence in the mornings for a look at you. Owners Jo and Neil live on the farm and are friendly without hovering. Neil will open up the Sea Harrier on Sunday mornings for anyone who fancies climbing into a jet cockpit, which is not a sentence you read often on a holiday listing.

Wedmore is a mile away on foot, around 40 minutes along the lane, with a good village shop and traditional pubs. Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, Glastonbury, and Burnham-on-Sea are all within 25 minutes by car. Westhay and Shapwick Heath nature reserves are close by for birdwatching on the Levels, and Clarks Village in Street is a short drive for outlet shopping. Taunton, Bath, and Bristol are each under an hour away.

Parking fits two cars in a private off-road space. One well-behaved dog is welcome at a charge of £20. There is a fast-charging EV point on site, payable via an app. WiFi covers the lodge. A travel cot and highchair are available if you need them.

A lodge where the kids spend the morning watching alpacas through the fence, and the adults spend the evening watching Glastonbury Tor from the hot tub. Hard to ask for much more than that.