Around Us
Journey Outward
Pen Selwood Retreats sits at the edge of a large area of woodland where Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire converge. From here, you might choose to stay close – walking or simply resting. Or venture out to discover what makes this corner of England so special: spectacular National Trust estates like Stourhead, sacred sites and stone circles, world class galleries, outstanding local food and restaurants, vibrant market towns and independent shops.
On Your Doorstep
Step from your door straight into miles of unspoilt woodland trails. Spring brings bluebells, summer offers shade beneath tall pines, autumn brings spectacular colour and fascinating fungi, winter reveals bare beech, oak and ash. Year-round, the woods are alive with birdsong. Go out early to catch the dawn chorus, listen for the song thrush, woodpeckers, blackbirds and blue tits. Watch for buzzards wheeling overhead and deer moving quietly through the undergrowth. View lots more inspirational images of our magical surroundings on The Gallery page.
Enrich Your Retreat
Somerset offers a rich concentration of cultural attractions, historic estates, and contemporary art spaces. It is famous for its food and restaurants, sacred sites, beautiful villages and market towns. Discover National Trust gardens, internationally renowned galleries, and beautifully preserved historic sites – perfect for day trips to enrich your retreat experience.
Food, Culture, Countryside and More
Use the links below to discover more...
Forming part of the same area of woodland that surrounds Pen Selwood Retreats, Stourhead Estate boasts one of the world’s finest landscape gardens. A masterpiece of 18th-century design featuring temples, grottos, and magnificent vistas around a serene lake.
World-renowned contemporary art gallery set in converted farm buildings near Bruton. Five exhibition spaces, outdoor sculptures, and beautiful gardens. Home to both restaurant and farm shop. Easily combined with a stroll around nearby Bruton.
Exquisite country estate combining historic gardens, innovative horticulture, and award-winning dining. Explore the parabolic glasshouse, kitchen gardens, Roman-inspired Bathing Temple spa, and woodland trails. Book ahead for restaurant reservations.
Somerset Character & Charm
Explore quintessential market towns of Somerset and nearby Dorset, each with its own distinct personality. From creative Bruton to historic Sherborne, bustling Frome to market day at Castle Cary, these towns offer independent shops, excellent cafés, and authentic local character.
Distance: 5 miles
Historic market town experiencing a creative renaissance. Browse independent galleries, unique shops, and artisan makers. Visit the atmospheric Bruton Abbey dovecote. Excellent shops, cafés and restaurants throughout the town.
Distance: 7 miles
Charming market town with independent shops, regular farmers’ markets, and a mainline railway station with direct services to London Paddington.
Distance: 10 miles
Vibrant independent town famous for its monthly artisan market, creative community, and quirky independent shops. Excellent cafés, vintage stores, and Catherine Hill’s steep cobbled street lined with craft shops and galleries.
Distance: 9 miles
Historic, picturesque Saxon hilltop market town in North Dorset, renowned for its panoramic views and the famous Gold Hill, immortalized in the Hovis bread advertisement.
Distance: 11 miles
Historic Dorset town featuring stunning medieval abbey and Norman castle. Beautiful honey-coloured stone buildings, quality independent shops, and thriving café culture. Rich in history and architectural splendour including the beautifully renovated Grade I Listed exhibition and performance space The Sherborne.
Distance: 16 miles
Glastonbury, steeped in myth and legend, features the Tor, Abbey ruins, and eclectic independent shops.
Distance: 11 miles
Wells Cathedral, England’s smallest city, offers architectural splendour and the historic Bishop’s Palace with moated gardens.
Distance: 20 miles
UNESCO World Heritage City renowned for Roman Baths, Georgian architecture, and Jane Austen connections. Exceptional shopping, dining, and cultural attractions.
Where the Veil Thins
For those drawn to earth mysteries and ancient wisdom, Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset are rich with ancient sites. Stone circles that mark the wheel of the year. Hill forts where our ancestors watched the same stars. Some of England’s most powerful sacred sites are right on your doorstep.
Distance: 16 miles
The Tor rises like a finger pointing to heaven—Isle of Avalon in ancient lore, crossroads of ley lines according to some and the heart chakra of the world. Climb to the summit at dawn or dusk. Feel the land fall away. Understand why pilgrims have journeyed here for millennia. On a clear day you can see the Tor from the lane beside the cottage.
Distance: 23 miles
This needs no introduction. Sarsen stones aligned to solstice sunrises 5,000 years ago. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Their purpose still debated, their presence undeniable.
Distance: 32 miles
Europe’s largest stone circle, vast enough to hold a village within its bounds. Unlike Stonehenge, you can walk among the stones, touch them, feel their ancient presence.
Distance: 10 miles
Iron Age hillfort offering 360-degree views across the landscape. Local legends speak of underground passages and hidden treasures. A powerful place for meditation and contemplation.
Distance: 32 miles
England’s only natural World Heritage Site. Dramatic coastal scenery, fossil hunting, and seaside towns. Lyme Regis and Charmouth offer beaches, cliffs, and geological wonders spanning 185 million years.
Discover the Region's Thriving Food Scene
Excellent traditional pubs and contemporary dining venues dot the countryside around Pen Selwood Retreats. Whether you seek a cosy Sunday lunch, Michelin-starred cuisine, or simple honest cooking, you’ll find exceptional food within easy reach.
Our local favourites include…
In the heart of Bruton, an all-day restaurant with in-house artisan bakery, wine shop and café. Beautiful, converted chapel space serving breakfast through dinner.
Traditional village pub with open fires, locally-sourced menu, and warm atmosphere. Perfect for Sunday roasts and relaxed dining.
Charming country pub serving excellent home-cooked food. Regular events and warm welcome.
Beautiful old Somerset pub with beams, flagstones, and crackling fires set in the picture perfect village of Batcombe. Award winning seasonal modern menu, voted one of the best in the UK.
Historic, independent pub in the heart of Bruton, Somerset. Known for its friendly, inviting atmosphere and focus on local character. No dining here, just great bar snacks.
Michelin-starred, farm-to-table restaurant in Hardway, near Bruton, created by chef Merlin Labron-Johnson. Innovative British cuisine celebrating local ingredients.
Located at Hauser & Wirth Somerset in Bruton. Named for and inspired by the Portuguese artist. Contemporary dining in a beautiful gallery setting.
A visit to Horrell & Horrell is like going to a friend’s house for dinner, where you bring a bottle, help yourself to a drink, and settle in for a convivial evening. Relaxed, welcoming, and delicious.
Enchanting 18th Century walled garden restaurant set in stunning landscaped grounds. Seasonal menu celebrating produce from their own kitchen garden.
Farm-to-Table Somerset
Somerset’s thriving food scene surrounds you. Stock your retreat kitchen with exceptional local produce, artisan foods, and award-winning wines from nearby farms, shops and markets.
Our recommended local suppliers include…
A friendly local shop filled with seasonal local and organic produce with a warm community spirit.
Coles Yard, Wincanton High Street, BA9 9JP
Local meats, fresh bread and provisions, at Hauser & Wirth
Artisan foods, local meat and deli items and a cafe. Located between Wincanton and Bruton.
Raw milk and dairy, honesty box shop on the farm
Elliscombe Farm, Higher BA9 8EA
Carefully curated selection of wines
Local and international wines
Specialist cheeses and provisions
Order or collect beautifully home-made food
Sherborne Artisan Market – 3rd Sunday of the month
Castle Cary – Tuesdays
Wells – Wednesdays and Saturdays
Frome Independent Market – First Sunday of month
Ask us for a full list of recommendations and opening times when you book.
Waitrose, Gillingham – a short walk from Gillingham train station
Morrisons, Wincanton
Lidl, Wincanton
Marks & Spencer Food Hall, Frome
Sainsbury’s, Frome
Trusted Local Connections
We’ve built relationships with exceptional local practitioners and businesses who share our values of integrity, quality, and conscious practice. These are people we know personally and recommend wholeheartedly.
Bespoke flower essence consultations and remedies. Saskia creates personalised essences to support emotional healing, life transitions, and personal growth.
TCM acupuncture and sound healing tuning forks.
Portrait photography sessions in her studio in Wincanton. Supporting connection to landscape and authentic self-expression through imagery.
Holistic therapist and Ayurvedic Practitioner. Range of treatments supporting physical and emotional wellbeing.
Curate Your Perfect Retreat
Every Retreat guest seeks something different. Some arrive knowing exactly what they need. Others discover it during their stay. We're happy to help you plan excursions, book treatments with local practitioners, or simply share our knowledge of this special corner of England.
