TRAVEL GUIDE | CABANA TRAVEL | WORLD OF  CABANA

Somerset-based tastemaker Emily Cameron, co-founder and creative director of cult fragrance brand Ffern, shares an insider’s guide to the beautiful English county - from an atmospheric 12th century abbey to bookstores, restaurants and a world-leading stay.

BY EMILY CAMERON | CABANA TRAVEL | 4 AUGUST 2025

My Favorite Place to Stay: The Newt

Between the villages of Bruton and Castle Cary, The Newt is one of my favorite places to spend the night. It’s set in a 17th-century Georgian manor that looks like something from a Jane Austen novel. It’s all in the most beautiful burnt honey colored stone. They have apple orchards, kitchen gardens, and an ancient woodland with a three-hundred year old Druid Tree inside it. I love that everything they do is rooted in that landscape. It feels like such a celebration of Somerset.

My Favorite Restaurant: Holm

I love Holm in South Petherton, a 34-cover restaurant that serves the best local, seasonal produce - many of their vegetables come from allotment growers in the village! I always appreciate the effort that goes into sourcing the highest quality ingredients. The trout is smoked over local apple wood for example, and the chips, which are amazing, are sprinkled with the best Westcombe cheddar cheese.

My Favorite Museum or Gallery: Taunton Castle Museum

 If I have a few hours to spare, I’ll visit the Taunton Castle Museum with my children. It was recently renovated, though the building, an historic medieval castle, has been wonderfully preserved. They have some real gems in their collection - the old bowling balls made from apple wood are a favourite of mine.

My Favorite Cafe: The White Post

This is a great cafe just outside Wellington, a market town near the Devon border. They do simple but delicious brunches you can have in their garden when the sun is shining. We love taking home their amazing donuts for a treat in the afternoon.

My Favorite Cozy Pub: The Three Horseshoes

The Three Horseshoes in Batcombe is a 17th-century pub that reopened a couple of years ago. Margot Henderson (co-founder of London’s Rochelle Canteen) is at the helm, though everything feels very authentic to Somerset. The food is unpretentious and hearty, with all the classics done beautifully. Their cider list is amazing, as is the cheese, which comes from down the road at Westcombe Dairy.

My Favorite Garden or Green space: Forde Abbey

The gardens at Forde Abbey (just over the border in Dorset) are glorious through every season. On the banks of the River Axe, the Abbey has been continuously inhabited since the first Cistercian monks came here in the 12th century, which is unlike so many other monasteries in this country. Needless to say, the atmosphere is very romantic with all the crenellations and towers in the background. This summer, their sweet peas were pure magic, with all their tendrils tangling up wigwams in the most vibrant lilacs and pinks. The scent coming off them was amazing. 

My Favorite Flea Market or Antique Store

I love the Shepton Mallet antiques fair which takes place every three months. But in truth, my all time favourite place for antiques is Ashburton, which is just over the border in Devon. They have 10 or so individual shops and dealers - it’s a treasure trove of Georgian and Victorian furniture, ceramics, mid-century paintings, gilded mirrors... I could spend hours getting lost here, and regularly do.

My Favorite Shop: Bramble and Wild

I smile every time I walk into this artisan florist in Frome. All the arrangements in their shop are so romantic and rustic. They mostly rely on local growers, but they grow their own sweet peas, dahlias and annuals on a cutting patch down the road. 

My Favorite ‘Hidden Treasure’: Cale by East

Cale by East by East West in Wincanton. They use the highest quality natural fabrics, and everything is designed in Somerset.The clothes have a sort of playfulness about them which I find very joyful. We have actually used them in a number of Ffern’s seasonal films.

Your Favorite Way to Spend a Day in Somerset

My ideal day starts at Wiveliscombe farmer's market, which is every Saturday morning. I’ll potter around for a while, and pick up different local ingredients for the most delicious picnic. Later, I’ll go to Dunster Castle with my family for the afternoon. We’ll watch the sunset by the castle, before making our way into Dunster for dinner. It’s a beautiful medieval village with some amazing pubs to choose from.