Stepping out of the car, The Quantock Hide gave us a warm welcome from the glowing windows, whilst the tall trees that keep the Hide so well hidden rustled in the evening breeze.

I’m so lucky to work with such stunning properties, and being immersed in them day in and day out means I get to know them really well, so when the opportunity came up for me to have a long weekend at The Quantock Hide with my family I jumped at the chance – it really is a stunning retreat.

So we drove off from Cornwall, eager to reach Somerset. What my family didn’t know is that I’d secretly arranged to pick up a very special car hire, so en route we stopped off at the amazing Holmbush Hire, where a stunning Range Rover Vogue, pristinely white, awaited us to whisk us off. Hopping on board, Scott was eager to drive the pristine, sumptuous beast so I begrudgingly let him, and the rest of the journey passed in a luxurious bubble.

We arrived at the Quantocks late afternoon, and the Range Rover easily managed the steep ascent to the Hide. Stepping out of the car, the retreat gave us a warm welcome from the glowing windows, whilst the tall trees that kept the Hide so well hidden rustled in the evening breeze. We let ourselves in to find everything ready – even the radio was on playing softly, and after a rather long journey this is exactly what we needed - a gentle, relaxed welcome.

William and Elsie were excited to explore the retreat, so we left them to it as we unpacked. Emma, the really friendly owner, popped over to check we were all settled – a lovely touch which made us feel really cared for, whilst a sumptuous welcome hamper was the cherry on the top. Filled with locally-produced goodies, the fridge was well stocked too, with sausages, bacon, black pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes, eggs, butter, milk, bread, pate, three different cheeses, chutney, Prosecco, jams and marmalades, quails eggs, cheese straws, cider and cereals were left to ensure we never went hungry whilst a scented candle and bath bombs were left thoughtfully for the bath. For the kids there were marshmallows, loads of sweets and bubbles – there was even a birthday card and present for Elsie too (it was her third birthday whilst we were there). Spoilt doesn’t begin to describe how we felt!

The Quantock Hide really is a unique property - we spent the evening in, unwinding in front of the wood burner in the gorgeously lodge-style living area after putting Elsie and William to bed in the second bedroom (which can be made as a double or a twin). The quiet night, a long journey and blissfully comfortable beds meant they soon fell asleep, leaving Scott and I free to enjoy a glass or two of Prosecco before we too fell asleep under the golden canopy of the master bedroom.

After a blessedly long and deep sleep for all, we woke up and rustled up a huge breakfast using the gorgeous goodies left for us. With tummies full, we jumped in the car and headed to Kilve Beach, in the heart of the Quantocks. Mostly rocky with loads of rock pools to explore, we were on the hunt for fossils. A Site of Special Scientific Interest, Kilve is famous for its geological finds, so removing fossils is prohibited but the kids loved finding them and spent a good hour or so searching for them whilst we enjoyed the bracing fresh air.

In the afternoon, we were in the mood for a treat so headed to The Old Chantry Tea Rooms for a proper Somerset Cream Tea. Being Cornish, it was jam then cream for Scott and me whilst the kids delved into brownies with ice cream - delicious! It’s a great spot and a perfect stop off point if you’re out and about exploring the coastline – there are no seats indoors, all the tables are outside (in what was the Chantry) amongst the ruins. Don’t be put off though - it’s well worth wrapping up warm for. Rustic and charming, the garden is gorgeous and even wildlife pay a visit – we were joined by some inquisitive guinea fowl!

Back at The Quantock Hide we spent the afternoon and evening relaxing, enjoying the fabulous hot tub that nestles in the back garden. It’s such an idyllic spot, and being autumn all the surrounding trees were turning, the leaves golden, orange and yellow against the sky. We didn’t want to get out, but once again our beds were calling us and we fell asleep to hooting owls outside our window.

The next day we kept it local, and decided to do a circular walk around the hide. Step through the property gate and you’re literally on Quantock Hills, so we spent a good few hours walking enjoying the incredible views (I admit we got a bit lost and got rescued by some young orienteer’s who had a map). We saw red deer, lots of birds and squirrels and interesting fungi whilst exploring. It was great for us as a family to get out together, seeing William and Elsie run about, and I vow we’ll do more of it when we go home. Sometimes it takes a holiday to make us realise how important it is to do something as simple as a walk together.

So the evening came, and as it was our last night I made the most of it by having a long soak in the gorgeous bath with candles. Scott kept Elsie entertained so I could have some alone time and it was bliss!

The next day we reluctantly packed up for our trip home and said goodbye to Emma, our super-friendly, extraordinarily generous host for the weekend, and the lovely Quantock Hide, which was a little piece of secluded heaven in Somerset. Relaxed and restored, we didn’t quite forget to drop off our amazing Land Rover at Holmbush Hire, but there was definitely a big part of me who would like to have carried on back into Cornwall with it!

The Quantock is one of those rare properties that is both perfect for four and for two. It makes a gorgeous honeymoon escape with the bath tub for two, hot tub, canopied bed and seclusion, whilst it’s also great for two couples or a family. It’s doggie friendly too, and with all the lovely walks on your doorstep you couldn’t ask for a better getaway.

The Quantock Hide is from £849 for a long weekend in winter to £1,779 for a week in summer. Holmbush Hire have a fantastic range of exclusive cars to rent including Land Rovers, Range Rovers and Jaguar F-Type.