Rosie and Albert's Exmoor Escape

You can observe lemurs and hedgehogs as they go about their business in the Nocturnal House at Tropiquaria Wildlife Park (15 minutes’ drive). Other residents include otters, free-roaming birds and reptiles (don't worry: the latter are not free-roaming). A former fortress (as revealed by the ruins of the imposing tower), Dunster Castle and Watermill (25 minutes) is now an elegant country home and a National Trust property. After taking in the sea views, you can stroll among the Mediterranean and subtropical plants in the elegant terraced garden, then buy a bag of wholemeal flour ground at the on-site windmill. If you’re into fossil hunting, sandy Blue Anchor Beach (25 minutes), on the Bristol Channel, might yield a few treasures. From here, you can also catch a steam train and ride the West Somerset Railway to Watchet, where you can relax with fish and chips overlooking the harbour.