“The Mendips?” asked one of my geographically challenged friends when they found out where I was going. “Isn’t that in Switzerland or somewhere?”

“Not quite” I replied, “try Somerset.”

I was able to answer somewhat confidently but only because I had just consulted the modern day fount of all knowledge that is Google to find out more about the destination for my trip.

For I am ashamed to say that, even if I did have at least have a general idea of roughly where it was, I knew very little about this wonderful part of the country before my recent visit, even though it was well under two hours drive away and actually in the neighbouring county.

This was our first family holiday with our seven-month-old daughter and we could not have chosen a more perfect destination than Cheddar Woods Resort and Spa.

The resort is situated just outside the village of Cheddar, with so much to explore on our doorstep, but also enough on site facilities to take away some of the added stress and worries that come with travelling with a young family.

Our accommodation was a wonderfully presented six-bed chalet with everything we needed for our four-night break.

Immaculate is not the word to describe the condition of the chalet when we arrived and it was a wonderful combination of luxurious and modern with a cosy, holiday feel that instantly made us feel at ease.

There was plenty of room as well and even when our little one’s grandparents came up for a night the chalet never felt cramped.

These little things might not seem much to people without babies or young children but the fact that the chalet came equipped with a travel cot and high chair while the restaurant and facilities on site were also child friendly was a godsend to us.

As well as a swimming pool and soft play area, the site also offered a whole host of activities for older children while big kids can enjoy bowling, pool and a golf simulator in the bar area or relax with a treatment in the spa.

The bar offers local drops such as the wonderfully named ale Gorge Best, which can also be picked up from the on-site farm shop.

We were keen to get out and about as well though and the site is literally just a few minutes’ drive from the awe-inspiring Cheddar Gorge – well I’d drunk the beer so now it was time to sample the real thing!

After driving through the quaint and charming countryside and villages of the surrounding area, it suddenly seems like you are transported into something out of Tolkien’s Middle Earth when the hillside splits apart to reveal the giant inland cliffs.

There is also local wildlife to admire as you wind your way through the incredible terrain in the shape of the goats that nibble away at the grass on the gorge’s steep slopes.

At the foot of the gorge as well as the obligatory Costa coffee shop is an array of more unique touristy shops where you can buy the local cheese that made the area famous and even see it being made.

Slightly further from Cheddar Woods but still within easy reach is Wells, England’s smallest city with its stunning cathedral and equally impressive Bishop’s Palace making it a lovely place to while away a few hours.

We were also lucky enough to arrive on market day and sample a whole host of local delicacies from cheese to cider.

Other attractions in the area include Wookey Hole Caves, seaside locations such as Weston-super-Mare and miles of gorgeous rolling Somerset countryside beneath the picturesque Mendip Hills.

For anyone in need of more hustle and bustle, Bristol and the ever popular tourist destination of Bath are also not far at all. During our stay we paid a visit to Glastonbury, overlooked by its famous Tor and with an array of quirky shops and people quite unlike any other place I have visited.

There are also plenty of welcoming village pubs in the area and we particularly enjoyed our lunch stops at the friendly Riverside Inn in Cheddar and the welcoming George Inn at Croscombe.

Other places worth a visit and barely a stone’s throw from Cheddar Woods is the impressive Cheddar Reservoir, which offers a nice flat walking location in contrast to the undulating Mendip Hills, and the small market town of Axbridge with its medieval square.

During our stay we were never short of things to do both on site and in the surrounding area. This is proper English countryside, and even the village names of places like Westbury-sub-Mendip and Robin Stoke make you feel like you are in some kind of Enid Blyton novel.

The resort was also a perfect place to relax and unwind during our stay, while our chalet was just perfect for us.

I’ll be honest, and parents will understand this, from the moment we started packing the car and were confronted with just how much extra we had to take, we realised that travelling as a family would mean holidays would never be the same again.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved enjoying quality time with our little one and exploring new places with her and my wife, but the completely care-free holidays of our pre-children days were now consigned to the past as we had our little bundle of joy to think about. However, I cannot imagine many better places to start and be able to relax as much as you can than Cheddar Woods.

Getaway

Harry stayed in an Axbridge Lodge at Cheddar Woods Resort and Spa, Somerset.

A three-night short break for up to six people in an Axbridge Lodge costs from £335, a week costs from £665.

Visit hoseasons.co.uk or call 0345 498 6130