The drive to Snowshill Manor is breathtaking, rising high into the hills with magnificent views over the valleys below. We passed through picture perfect villages with old thatch cottages, village greens and local shops and through farmland and fields full of animals.

Our first stop: tea and cake, where we sat out on the patio admiring the vista in front of us. We then had a potter around the pretty gardens and grounds. The big manor house itself is something completely different to behold: it was designed to play host to the eccentric collector Charles Paget Wade’s collection of art and objects. There’s so much to look at that you  really could spend hours in there perusing his eclectic treasure trove.

Just as tempting, though, is the prospect of a little picnic on the lawn in the warmth of the sunshine. There’s nothing better than being able to let your little ones run around safely, discovering wildlife and breathing in fresh air.

Image by Abigail Oliver