Combe Cottages

The gardens at Combe Cottages offer something quite different from the manicured show gardens you'll find in glossy magazines. It's a proper working landscape where someone clearly loves plants - all densely planted, winding paths, and the sort of place where you'll stumble on something interesting round every corner.

What you're looking at is a series of interconnected gardens built around period cottages near Holford, the kind of space that rewards wandering rather than rushing through. There are mature trees, herbaceous borders that actually look lived-in, and the sense that this is a labour of love rather than a commercial operation. Walkers and keen gardeners will get far more from it than families with young children - it's not a destination for a morning's entertainment, more a thoughtful hour or so for anyone who genuinely enjoys plants and design.

Access and timing details aren't readily available, so you'll need to ring ahead or check locally once you've booked. Holford itself is a quiet village in the Quantock Hills, and the gardens sit nicely within a wider walking territory. If you're staying at Haven Doniford Bay or Warren Bay, both only a short drive away, this could slot into a lazy afternoon rather than being your main event. The Quantocks are excellent for walking, so combine it with a proper ramble and you've got a proper day sorted.