Visit Hillbrush

Not the most obvious of stops but this brush factory – yes, brush factory – is a fantastic place to pull in if you’re travelling on the A303. Hillbrush has been making brushes in Mere since 1922 but it only recently opened a visitor centre and fantastic restaurant alongside. The museum is colourful, tactile and surprisingly kid-friendly, and there are plenty of appealing gifts in the shop, from shaving kits to quirky hedgehog door stops. With the factory producing nearly 3,000 different products for export there’s every brush you can imagine here.

In the bright, modern restaurant, cakes from local producers tempt you from beneath gleaming glass cloches. Busy tables are served with steaming breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas, from a selection of delicious burgers, salads and main dishes, including the popular beer battered fish and chunky chips with homemade tartar sauce, as well as special Sunday roast dinners and a bespoke themed evening menu every third Friday of the month. Dogs are welcome on the sunny, south-facing terrace.