I don’t really travel much within the UK.
If I have the chance to go somewhere, I usually go… properly go. Different country, different culture, different everything.
So the idea of a “staycation” is not something I naturally gravitate towards.
But for Mother’s Day this past weekend, I decided to do something different.
Just a short weekend away with Romeo. Nothing too far, but far enough to feel like a break.
And honestly… I’m really glad we did.
We went to Mad Swans in the Mendips, and from the moment we arrived, it just felt easy.
No stress, no rushing, no long travel, just… arriving and easing into it.
And I think that’s actually one of the biggest advantages of this kind of trip.
You get the feeling of being away without the exhaustion that usually comes with travel.
It’s remote enough to feel like you’ve escaped everything, but still incredibly accessible. You’re about 30 minutes from both Bath and Bristol, which makes it a really good base if you want to explore, but also perfect if you just want to stay put and switch off.
That balance is hard to get right, but this place does it well.
Mini Golf
We arrived early, left our bags, and went straight into mini golf, which, for a six year old, is basically the best possible start.
Romeo loved it. Properly loved it.
And that kind of set the tone for the whole weekend.
The Cabins
The cabins are beautiful.
We stayed in Cabin 8, and what stood out the most to me was how private and quiet it felt. You’re surrounded by countryside, greenery everywhere, and at night, you can actually see the stars clearly. No noise, no distractions, just that kind of silence you don’t realise you’ve been missing.
Inside, it’s cosy but also feels quite luxurious in a very understated way.
There are so many little details that make a difference. Tea, coffee, milk, honey, little cookies, handwritten notes, even a small radio. It never feels overdone, just thoughtful.
Little Details
And then… the movie screen.
That was it for Romeo. That alone made the whole trip for him.
We ended up watching something together in the evening, wrapped up, completely relaxed, and it’s funny how those simple moments end up being the ones you remember the most.
What I really appreciated about Mad Swans is how well they’ve thought about the experience as a whole.
It’s not just “a nice place to stay”.
There’s a proper mix of activities available, from padel and golf to mini golf and pickleball, so if you want to be active, you absolutely can.
At the same time, nothing feels forced. You can just as easily spend your time doing nothing, sitting outside with a tea, enjoying the quiet, slowing down a bit.
That flexibility makes it work for different types of people, whether you’re going as a couple, with friends, or with kids.
We also spent time at both of their dining spaces.
The Hangout
The Potting Shed
The Potting Shed, where we had dinner, and The Hangout, which was honestly such a fun surprise.
The Hangout is more relaxed, with pizzas, games, darts and different activities, and it’s the kind of place where you can just spend hours without even realising it.
One thing I would say here, if you do want to play some of the games like darts or similar activities in The Hangout, it’s worth booking those in advance. We assumed we could just wait for a turn and quickly realised how popular they are.
It’s a small thing, but it makes a difference if you’re planning your time.
And again, little details like the bill being brought inside a book, it sounds random, but it’s exactly the kind of touch that shows the level of thought behind the place.
The staff were great throughout.
Everyone we interacted with was friendly, relaxed, professional, just very natural. No awkwardness, no overdoing it, just genuinely good service, which is actually harder to find than you’d think.
Overall, what makes this place special is not just one thing.
It’s the combination.
The simple good life
The setting, the quiet, the cabins, the activities, the atmosphere, the small details… it all comes together in a way that just works.
It’s one of those places where you can go for a short break and come back feeling like you’ve actually had time away.
And I think that’s why I’d recommend it.
Not because it’s flashy or over the top, but because it does the simple things really well.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
And it made me realise that maybe I should do this more often.
You don’t always need to go far to feel like you’ve had a proper break.
If anyone has good staycation recommendations in the UK, I’m all ears.
But this one… I would definitely recommend.
Love, Emma
Tea Time