Floors slope, stairs are steep and narrow and views of the Cathedral and Green are wondrous from this old and quirky building. Downstairs, home-made Italian cuisine in Rugantinos restaurant.

Set in seven acres of beautiful grounds, a historic manor house listed in the Domesday Book, and once owned by Elizabeth I’s Lord Treasurer, Lord Burghley. Rebuilt in 1840, it still features an original fireplace in the galleried hall. Casual dining, snacks and afternoon tea are served in the Restaurant and on the large terrace overlooking the garden. The hotel is in the village of Stanton Saint Quintin, four miles from Chippenham.

Nestling in over seven acres, there are glorious views of the garden from every room of this lovingly refurbished 18th-century house. Accommodation is in three spacious rooms (one with a separate bathroom), and B&B guests may sit in front of a warm hearth in the cosy sitting room/library or drawing room. The host is helpful with local knowledge. A short walk away, a lively pub serves tasty food.

Within the Bowood Estate, a purpose-built country house with adjacent golf facilities and an award-winning spa (infinity swimming pool, gym, rock sauna, crystal steam room, aromatherapy shower and relaxation room, and treatments. The Shelburne Restaurant, Bar & Library have all-day dining and parkland views. Guests receive complimentary access to Bowood House & Gardens (April to October). Chippenham is a 6-mile drive away.

Nestling by a church, a traditional, family-run country inn with a bar, comfy sofas and good food in two restaurant areas. The 17th-century building is close to Montacute House; Yeovil is a thirteen minute drive.

Overlooking the Blackdown Hills, a welcoming, dog-friendly country pub in an 18th century coaching Inn. It is surrounded by rolling fields and the Neroche Staple Fitzpaine Herepath  (a 13.5 mile off-road trail) is close by.  Bedrooms are neat and comfortable, and supplied with tea, coffee, bottled water; Chard is large enough to accommodate a family of four. In the bar, local ciders and wines accompany home-made food, such as calves liver with crispy bacon, creamy mash and gravy or Dover sole Benoit with Fowey mussels and a white wine crème fraîche sauce, and a choice of vegetarian and vegan dishes, all based on locally sourced ingredients.

A smart, well-appointed B&B situated in the heart of town. A Continental breakfast is served in a contemporary dining area, or may be taken in the room.

In a rambling, five hundred-year-old house, this family-run hotel is decorated with a mix of traditional and quirky features. Bedrooms have ornate beds, rich fabrics and uneven floors. Downstairs, there are original inglenook fireplaces and fine furnishings in the elegant public areas. The restaurant (open Monday-Thursday) serves set two- and three-course menus for dinner.

Opposite Taunton Racecourse, a charming 17th-century lodge set in over an acre of gardens. Some of the B&B accommodation is in spacious rooms in the main house – one has an emperor size bed, a bathroom with his and hers washbasins, free-standing bath, a separate power shower, and views to the Blackdown Hills. Characterful suites in the former stables have beams, a 4-poster bed, Persian rugs on traditional slate floors, and their own private access. A well-equipped, self-catering two-bedroom cottage is also available.

Off the beaten track, four miles south of Taunton, a relaxed and dog-friendly rustic inn with wooden floors, exposed stone walls, leather sofas and a log burner, Perfect pre- and post a bracing walk, the welcoming bar serves an extensive range of Somerset ales, and there is hearty fare in the oak-beamed restaurant. Bedrooms have views of rolling countryside.

Next to a fully restored and working water mill on the banks of the River Avill, a tranquil B&B with four pristine rooms. The lounge has books, magazines, games and DVDs; local maps and information. A small seating area at the front overlooks the river and across to Deer Forest.

Smartly refashioned into a stylish modern country house hotel, a Grade II-listed Georgian manor in glorious Herefordshire countryside, just beyond the town. Popular for weddings and special events, the family-run hotel has bedrooms with garden views, and a fine-dining restaurant.

Once the village blacksmiths, the 16th-century building is now a peaceful B&B with a TV, fridge, hairdryer, radio alarm, and tea- and coffee-making facilities in contemporary bedrooms. For breakfast, local and homemade produce is served in a large open-plan kitchen. A picnic area at the front is set beside the river bank where the Kennet flows past. In a small village, 5 miles W of Marlborough.