A very big house in the country

Wootton House, a handsome 18th century country property sleeping sixteen in the rural heart of Somerset is a delightful retreat for families or friends taking a holiday together.

Hidden on a 1,000 acre estate near Butleigh Wootton, the house has outstanding views across parkland to the monument of Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, perched high on Polden Ridge.

Originally built for the Hood family, the house features an elegant Queen Anne façade and has fine period features and furnishings within. The front entrance hall, which has wood flooring and oak paneling, leads into an equally large back hall with a Steinway grand piano and a second upright piano, both tuned.

Reception rooms include the drawing room, with its open fire and original silk wallpaper; a second sitting room and a large formal dining room furnished with a beautiful oak table and an enormous carved wood and stone Jacobean-style ornamental fireplace. Both the spacious kitchen/diner and walk-in pantry have original Edwardian butler sinks as well as up-to-date appliances and there’s a 4-door Aga.

Oak stairs lead up to the landing, with its William Morris wallpaper, and eight bedrooms, including two four-posters, and five bathrooms. There’s a further bathroom downstairs and a huge games room equipped with table tennis, pool, darts, a PlayStation and Hammond organ. Holidaymakers also have a telephone and broadband Internet connection for their own use.

Outside there’s a large mature garden with a croquet lawn and hard tennis court while across the fields are fishponds and a small lake in the woods. At the end of the drive is Home Farm where riding can be arranged with the tenant farmer and fresh ‘Tor Beef’, grazed on the slopes of nearby Glastonbury Tor, is sold.

Prices start from £1,305 for a week’s stay at Wootton House for sixteen guests (£81.56 per person); pets welcome. For details and bookings, visit Helpfulholidays.com searching for ref E12.