Chew Valley, Somerset
Somerset is well known for its glorious countryside so if you're planning a holiday in this part of the country it's hard to know which part to settle on. The Chew Valley is perhaps less explored but that doesn't necessarily make it any less beautiful; this lush and fertile landscape lies on the edge of the Mendip Hills, less than half an hour from Bristol, Bath, Wells and Weston-Super-Mare. The most prominent feature of the area are the River Chew and Chew Valley Lake, the UK's fifth largest reservoir which covers some 1,200 acres and is a lure to flyfishers and birdlife, as well as home to The Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club.
It's worth exploring; have a pootle around the pretty villages, stop off for a pub lunch; take the litt'luns to Chew Valley Animal Park, play golf and see the deer in their enclosures at Ashton Court Estate, and don't miss the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta when over 100 brightly coloured balloons take off at dawn and dusk creating an absolute spectacle in the skies. If anicient history is your thing you really should see Stanton Drew Stone Circles and The Cove - the third biggest stone circle in England.