Old Manor Farm Grotto

The grotto at Old Manor Farm is one of those Somerset oddities that makes you wonder what on earth the 18th-century landowner was thinking. You're looking at a small stone chamber, carved into the hillside and decorated with shells and pebbles - the sort of folly that wealthy folk used to splash cash on when they fancied a bit of theatrical eccentricity in their gardens. It's not massive, and you won't spend hours here, but the craftsmanship is genuinely interesting if you like that sort of thing. The shell work has survived remarkably well considering how long it's been standing.

This works best for history types and anyone with a soft spot for Georgian-era garden nonsense. Kids might find it a bit underwhelming unless they're into creeping about in small dark spaces. Allow twenty minutes, half an hour tops, unless you're the sort to sit and sketch it.

Bath is just down the road, so you could easily combine this with a proper day out in the city itself. If you're staying at one of the nearby farms - Bath Mill Lodge Retreat or Campwell Farm are closest at under three miles away - it's a decent leg-stretch on a morning when you can't face another museum. Worth the detour if you're already in the area exploring Somerset's gardens and historic properties, but don't go out of your way specially. The grotto's appeal is niche.