Holding up the head of the high street in Bruton is No. 1, a boutique hotel containing an assortment of bedrooms and suites across a cluster of heritage buildings. The 12 bedrooms wrap around a courtyard, connecting a Georgian townhouse with a medieval forge and row of cottages that span over 500 years of use. Somerset’s craft history is being updated with the help of properties like No. 1 and The Newt, less than three miles from Bruton.

The dozen rooms are divided between the main house (5 rooms), courtyard cottage (3) and forge (4). Furnishings including handmade mattresses from Odd Mattress Company, as well as robust furniture that leans into the formidable foundations of the site.

No. 1’s neighbour is Osip, an essential visit and breakfast option (soon to be relocated during 2024). At the Chapel is another impressive conversation, located midway on the high street. Hauser & Wirth’s gallery, farm shop and main restaurant The Roth are less than half a mile from No. 1.

Training notes

Bruton’s location in the heart of Somerset connects it to a web of country lanes and curving climbs that suit both runners and cyclists. There’s no pool or swimmable water within the Bruton area – but Vobster Quay is eight miles north

Runners should make a note of a 2.35km loop West up Sunny Hill and also around a trail around King’s Playing Fields, located in centre of the village. Otherwise, a 10km route west to Castle Cary takes you on some public footpaths, while a run south to Bruton’s 16th century Dovecot makes for an easy 3km loop to spin the legs over in the morning.

Cyclists can point their front wheel to Bath to take on a sequence of hills north including – Maggot Farm Climb(1.1km / 8%) and Lamyatt above Milton Clevedon (2.6km / 4%). Those inclined to stay nearer Bruton can connect a 80km anti-clockswise circular loop that can be made through the village’s neighbouring settlements. 

Start by rolling south-west from At the Chapel, taking Dropping Lane past Hauser & Wirth as a 2km climb at 4% to warm up the legs. Then pass through Redlynch before taking a left on Kingsettle Hill and onto Charcroft Hill. From here the loop continues around the dial through North Brewham, Batcombe and Milton Clevedon. See the full GPS read-out here. 

Another cycle route would be to extend the loop east into Cranborne Chase AONB along The Hardway, hooking north through Kilmington before cutting back west on Druley Hill then Hammer Street through North Brewham.

Bruton had a railway station with direct services from London (1hr 45 minutes). For more information, visit numberonebruton.com