Our friends warned us that traveling with a small pup may be challenging at best. We insisted however on taking full advantage of the May bank holiday weekend and booked a dog friendly weekend in Somerset.  We are pleased to report it was a delightful mini break.

For starters, we were really impressed with the choice of hotels that admit dogs. We stayed in The White Heart in Somerton, which was just perfect featuring a specious bar, secluded garden and a stunning boutique bedroom comfortable for all three of us.

Although the food (and coffee) served at the pub was great the actual culinary highlight of the weekend was a meal at The Pony & Trap:  Josh and Holly Eagleton’s Michelin Star countryside pub in Chew Magna. We had an exceptional lunch there whilst Bramble celebrated his first fine dining experience over a bowl of spring water.

The trip to Somerset would not be complete without a visit to a cider farm. We chose Burrow Hill, intrigued by their apple brandy distillery and did not leave disappointed. The house cider served straight from the barrels in the cellar surrounded by acres of cider apple orchards must be the most delicious we have ever tasted.

Bramble enjoyed his cider experience an inch less as the farm boarder collie snapped at him unexpectedly. This painful but valuable lesson in dog etiquette was soon smothered by an opportunity to spring around with lambs, a brief encounter with a Gloucestershire Old Spot (just imagine the glimpse of surprise on his face!) and attention from all the lovely people. Life is beautiful for a cute pup.