Oakhill Ponds

On the fringes of the Mendip Hills in deepest Somerset there's a slice of enchanting land known locally as 'The Brew'. It was created over 200 years ago by the local Oakhill Brewery and has at its heart an old pleasure garden with ponds, waterfalls and an extraordinary grotto that is gently being restored after years of neglect. Its new owners are re-wilding and developing it into a 21st-century sanctuary for buzzards and kingfishers, butterflies and bats, even a family of a deer, while at the same turning part of it into a private and uniquely peaceful glamping site that is yours to discover – 'Glamping at The Brew'.

There's a combination of off-grid and on-grid experiences at 'The Brew'. Off-grid there are six luxury Lotus bell-tents: each has a proper king-sized bed, with duvets, blankets, towels, a hot water bottle and chests of drawers for your clothes; immediately outside there's an outdoor table and two chairs, a kettle and mugs for coffee and tea, while a compost loo and cabin showers are close at hand. You could even take a morning dip in the spring-fed ponds if it took your fancy!

On-grid there is a large and very comfortable yurt, enticingly positioned in the old walled garden a couple of minutes' walk from the tents, a great communal space. Here you have more privacy, with your own shower room and two (yes two!) flushing loos. The yurt has sofas and chairs, indoor and outdoor dining tables, bluetooth and wifi, and – we're not kidding! – its own vinyl collection and turntable. There's an outdoor kitchen and a garden room which provides space for reading and writing, games and books, art materials and binoculars. The garden room has a double sofa-bed and can also be used as an extra bedroom if camping off-grid is too hardcore. The garden itself has a barbecue and pizza oven plus a firepit and even its own water-feature, which you can admire from a handwoven swing.

The site is on the edge of a quiet village and is perfect for families with older children or groups of friends who want to enjoy a chilled break amid nature in a special and accessible location. There's a large canopy that provides cover for a gathering-space complete with beanbags and cushions. As for the ponds, they are quite large and on two levels, with a waterfall between them: the lower one is being developed for wildlife, while the upper pond is given over to leisure pursuits, with five inflatable kayaks for guest use and two paddleboards for hire.

Finally you can stroll to the nearby Oakhill Inn, just a few minutes' away, which serves delicious food and drink and does takeaways if you can't be bothered to stir from your garden perch. If you can, then it's worth knowing that just half a mile away lies the ancient woodland of Beacon Hill, with views towards Glastonbury Tor and the Somerset Levels.