Somerset tea garden The Chantry in Kilve is a fairy-tale

So if you've covered a few thousand steps while visiting Kilve Beach in Somerset, you may already know about The Chantry.

For those who don't, it is a quaint little tearoom and cafe built into the remains of an old chapel and there are few better places to spend an hour or two on a sunny afternoon - especially after you've knackered yourself out with a long walk, or an intense fossil-hunting expedition.

If you've got a dog it is even better, as not only is Kilve beach itself dog-friendly all year round, The Chantry is as well.

It even serves doggy ice cream which went down very well with my seven-month-old Pomeranian puppy. Anything that keeps her quiet for a while gets high marks in my and my partner's book.

The Chantry is like something out of a fairy-tale. Little birds will fly around you hoping to nab a crumb of scone, seemingly undaunted by families and dogs. You ring a bell to get the attention of one of the lovely ladies inside, who won't be seen unless you're ordering something or serving your table. And the serene and isolated location offers all the peace and quiet you could possibly want.

The food itself is delicious. I always think you can't go wrong with a cream tea, but to make it as brilliantly as they do here is another matter entirely. The portions are generous and you even get a box and cardboard cup in case you want it on the go.

The cafe is obviously making an effort to be sustainable which is great, but a minor gripe would be that it was a little tricky to get clotted cream out of a paper container and then spread it on a scone with a wooden knife. We needed a napkin or two after things got a bit messy, but this is hardly a deal-breaker.

The Chantry also offers a light lunch menu which seemed to be very popular with the other customers while we were there.

If you fancy a trip to a quieter beach and to feel like you're in a Famous Five novel for a little while, I would recommend The Chantry in a heartbeat.