Carthouse Brean, Somerset

Everything at Carthouse sits on one level, which makes it straightforward for anyone who would rather not deal with stairs, and easier again if you are carrying a sleeping child or a tray of drinks out to the garden. Both bedrooms have their own bathroom: the double has an en-suite with a walk-in shower, while the twin has an en-suite with a bath and shower over. Couples or families sharing get a genuine amount of privacy from that arrangement, and nobody queues.

The living space is open-plan, with kitchen, dining and sitting areas running together and an electric fire at the sitting end for cooler evenings. Heating is electric throughout, with fuel and power included, along with bed linen and towels. A cot and highchair can be requested ahead of arrival, worth knowing if you are travelling with a baby and would rather not fill the car with equipment.

Outside there is off-road parking and a garden with lawn and furniture, and guests can use the communal play area. Two well-behaved dogs are welcome. The setting is Brean, in Somerset, with a shop under a mile away and a pub a little over two miles off, so it is the sort of base where you tend to shop once on arrival and then settle in properly.