A one-and-a-half-acre slice of Somerset envelopes The Shed. Swathes of manicured green giving way to footpaths that wind their way through tangles of wooded hillside and beyond to the majestic uplands of the Quantock Hills, Exmoor National Park and the Blackdown Hills.
But there’s plenty to keep you on site. The fenced lawn is vast and verdant and primed for a picnic or just for children to let off steam. Before the energy evaporates, they’ll find the play house and climbing wall. But what’s that in the outbuilding?
You might be away from home, but there’s a homely rustic ambience to The Shed. The basket of logs by the fire is raring to light up family evenings with its roaring flames. And the living and dining areas are vast, with a quirky, vintage feel, upcycled décor and the chance to collapse and chill on sofas the size of steam trains.
Cook like you mean it with hearty, homely meals prepared in the large, beautiful bespoke kitchen. Better still, get us to do it. For a special celebration, call up our chef and take it easy as you crash back on the squishy sofas and revel in the aroma of fresh ingredients prepared by experts.
Getting everyone together for mealtimes won’t be an issue here. The sofas are large and although the dining table seems to have its own postcode, it’s dwarfed by the sprawling spaces. For that al-fresco experience, fling open the doors to the deck, gulp down the fresh country air and enjoy the good company.
At The Shed, the five bedrooms are big, beautiful and bursting with character. Beds are deep and sumptuous, yet come surrounded by vintage verve and quirky charm in the shape of character-packed wardrobes and upcycled packing cases. Trust us, it works.
There’s space here for 14 guests in lazy, languorous luxury. Pillows are deep and soft, mattresses forgiving yet supportive and linen cool and crisp. Slide between the sheets and listen to the somnolent sounds of the country air at night. The flap of birds, the rustle of leaves and the gentle patter of raindrops on the windows.
Three of the bedrooms here are kingsize, while the other two come with family flexibility in mind. They’re super-kings, with zip-and-link options to turn the beds into twins, plus four single-bed pullouts.
Each bedroom comes with its own ensuite, all of the bathrooms have showers and one features a roll top bath.
Few holiday homes are quite as children-centric as The Shed. The fun and frolics are embedded into almost every crack and crevice. Whatever the weather here in Somerset, the outlook is always sunny for entertainment and happy children make for delighted mums and dads.
Top of the tree must be the heated pool, heated to a steaming 32 to 34 degrees. Bring your beach ball and inflatables out to the outbuilding and dive into a world of family frolics and fun. When you’ve towelled off, the games room is right there, in a never-ending conveyor belt of wholesome recreation.
What’s next? There’s a playhouse for younger ones and a climbing wall that everyone can tackle. In the garden? A 14-foot trampoline. When exhaustion kicks in, unwind as a family in the movie room with its squishy sofas and cinema screen with projector. For short attention spans, books and games are on hand.
Away from base, follow the country paths and tackle the woods, fields and soaring uplands on foot, by bike or on horseback. Put the iPads away, wind your watch back a couple of generations and let them enjoy a childhood from an altogether different age.
