I could while away pretty much a whole day ambling up and down beautiful St. Catherine’s Hill in Frome. This atmospheric, steep cobbled street is lined with incredible independent shops and has browse, potter and linger written all over it; I’ve never found anywhere else like it.

Vintage fans will be in seventh heaven at Poot and Make and Mend (often frequented by Pearl and Daisy Lowe); go-to shops for lace cocktail dresses, satin clutches and retro jewellery. Deadly is the Female does a fine line in Dita Von Teese type dresses, shoes and corsets, while Herbs on the Hill is a wonderful apothecary which makes aromatherapy soaps.

I always want literally everything in gorgeous children’s store, Sister’s Guild, and I never come away without flowers from Bramble & Wild  (the cutest jam jar posies) and strips of bright satin ribbon from Millie Moon Haberdashery. There’s even an old fashioned model kit shop.

The atmosphere is brilliant because all the shop owners know and support each other and on the first Sunday of every month there’s the artisan market with lots of stalls selling everything from exquisite vintage jewellery to fresh baked sourdough.

Be sure to allow plenty of time. I always leave a little extra for a knock-out cappuccino and maybe a bowl of chicken and chorizo stew at The Little Red Café.

Image courtesy of Cole Henley on Flickr