Welcome to the North Wessex Downs – the gateway to the West Country. Your first stop? The iconic Uffington White Horse. Older than most stories and twice as confident, its sleek outline gallops across the hillside as if it knows a secret or two… and it surely does. Stand at its crest and the wind performs its own commentary, sweeping over the Vale of White Horse like it’s flipping through the pages of a favourite book. A quintessential British break wouldn’t feel complete without a wander through a charming market town, and Marlborough is one of the very best. The High Street stretches out generously, lined with indie shops, crooked-eaved inns, and cafés that seem deeply committed to the art of good cake.

History meets mystery in nearby Avebury – its stone circle wraps around the village as if giving it a hug from several thousand years ago. Wander the fields, meet the resident sheep (who seem utterly unimpressed by human awe), and feel gloriously small in the best possible way. After a day of exploring, soak it all in at The Vineyard Hotel & Spa– think wine, wellness, and warm hospitality. Bliss.

Where better location for a West Country quest than at the mystical stones of Stonehenge, where the air is thick with history and legend. For the most magical of sights, brave an early start on a crisp and misty morning to catch an iconic sunrise – it feels like a gateway to another world.

It’s perfectly acceptable to go back to bed afterwards (who are we to judge?), especially when you’re staying nearby at Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa. The hotel’s playful charm creates the perfect balance of old-world elegance and modern indulgence – and the estate is packed with history and intrigue of its own, with follies and fancies at every corner.

There’s much to explore, so if you’re lucky enough to be visiting during one of their open days, venture out to discover the evocative lost village of Imber – deserted yet compelling, a place caught between past and present. But if not, head south to stroll like a Georgian in the landscaped paradise of Stourhead, where temples, lakes and grottos sit amongst sweeping parkland.

From there, it’s on to the market town of Frome, alive with independent shops and creative energy – don’t miss the famed Frome Farmers’ Market on the second Saturday of the month! After all that excitement, the spa at Homewood beckons, so check in, unwind, and indulge. Don’t forget to take a turn around the gardens to spot the characterful animal hedges dotted about and pay a visit to the kitchen garden where many of the ingredients gracing your dinner plate are grown.