It’s not often you come across a hidden gem of the countryside but, when you do, it’s one you want to cherish. One such secret spot (that I just had to share) is the idyllic Pythouse Kitchen Garden in West Hatch, Wiltshire. Tucked away, off a narrow winding lane, is this abundant kitchen garden, part of an Estate that has passed by inheritance from the Middle Ages to now. Here, you can browse the rows of salads, asparagus, graffiti cauliflower and multi-coloured currants; pick your own bunches of herbs, sweet peas, and sunflowers; shop from the collection of shabby chic garden ornaments and paintings; or simply relax in the cafe and enjoy freshly made, seasonal delights, including tarts, pies and a memorable Ploughmans. They even stay open late on Fridays with a menu of cocktails. Garden mint mojitos, anyone?

For those of you who like to work up an appetite, take a wander along the surrounding lanes and indulge in views such as the above, or travel the 3.5 miles to the Fonthill Estate, for an off-road country ramble.