Take me there: Bruton, Somerset
Why go?
On the surface, Bruton is a fairly typical West Country town – handsome, peaceful, unassuming. But culturally it punches above its weight, thanks to the coterie of creative and media folk who have decamped here in search of the good life. The opening this week of world-class art gallery Hauser & Wirth is certain to up the ante even further and put this pretty pocket of Somerset firmly on to the art map.
What to do
Hauser & Wirth has spaces in London, Zurich, New York and now Bruton (hauserwirthsomerset.com). As well as changing displays of contemporary artwork, there will be gardens by renowned landscape designer Piet Oudolf (opening in September), a restaurant specialising in seasonal Somerset produce and family-friendly events. There’s good walking and cycling to be had in the gentle Brue Valley and Blackmore Vale: the 28-mile Leland Trail passes through the town, as does the Macmillan Way. The famous gardens at Stourhead are five miles away (nationaltrust.org.uk).
Where to eat
The town’s social hub is At The Chapel (atthechapel.co.uk) – an informal bistro-style restaurant, deli, wine merchant and bakery which also hosts cultural events. At Matt’s Kitchen (mattskitchen.co.uk), Matt himself serves reliably fabulous set-menu suppers in his house on the high street.
Where to stay
Check into one of the eight light, airy bedrooms upstairs at At The Chapel (from £100 to £250 per night). The couple who run the vintage and homeware shop Phillips & Skinner have just opened a beautiful cedar-wood B&B suite in their back garden (£120, including a voucher for breakfast at At The Chapel, thewingbruton.co.uk).
Insider tip
Amelia Skinner of Phillips & Skinner (phillipsandskinner.com) recommends tea at the Cole Manor Tea Rooms (01749 813 676), a café set in beautiful gardens on the outskirts of Bruton: “It’s a little off the beaten track and has the best lemon drizzle cake by far!”
Give me a break
Home: Cornwall starts tweeting
Cornwall’s tourist board is now using Twitter to publicise last-minute holidays. Among the deals available on @LastMinuteSW is 25% off all self-catering apartments at the Tregenna Castle Resort in St Ives for a week’s stay between 20 July and 30 August. A week in a one-bedroom apartment on the coastal estate now costs £1,115 (tregenna-castle.co.uk)
Away: the Tour de France for softies
Fair-weather cyclists have the chance to complete their own Tour de France, minus the pile-ups and pain. Cycling for Softies has three itineraries – in Alsace, Dordogne, and Provence – which follow the tour’s route at a more sedate pace and with gourmet pit stops. A seven-night break in Alsace this summer, with accommodation in three- and four-star hotels, costs £1,624pp (cycling-for-softies.co.uk)
