This year’s 10-day event sees 190 farms and food businesses represented on the trail. If you are looking for inspiration for places to visit in the year to come, look no further than the festival guide. It’s full of cafe’s, restaurants, events for a day out. If you are looking to be pointed in the  direction of who’s doing what in regenerative farming or supporting sustainability farms, then hunt down the guide and have a gander. I am totally inspired to visit so many of the places mentioned but for now, below are 12 of the places top on my list.

1. Guided Electric Cycle Safaris taking in the best artisan food & drink producers, plus lunch. Daily during the trail. 5 hours, 22 miles, 10am start. brutonbikehire.co.uk
2. The Piglet Pen family picnic at The Pigpen in Over Stratton, near South Petherton. Participatory art, theatre, music and a locally sources freshly made picnic box. July 17th. Friday Feast is on July 22nd. thepigpen.net
3. Westcombe cheese and charcuterie tours & tasting. Starting 3pm. Need to book. westcombedairy.com
4. Charles Dowding garden tour with the no-gig man himself. Alhampton. 7:30pm £12.50. Booking essential. charlesdowding.co.uk
5. Kimbers Farm Open Farm Day with tastings, trailer rides, animal spotting. Near Wincanton. Sat 23rd July. kimbersfarmshop.co.uk
6. Bioaqua Farm aquaponic tours. Sat 23rd & Sun 24th July. Tours every 15 mins between 11am-1pm. They also have a pop-up kitchen where you can eat food using ingredients grown on the farm. bioaquafarm.co.uk
7. The Good Life Projects with workshops, events and volunteer opportunities. Great summer camp for Kids! Rock Farm in Shepton Mallet. thegoodlifeprojects.co.uk
8. Palette & Pasture - Gelato, children area, meet the animals and round bale trail! Frome. Sat & Sun 10am-5pm. paletteandpasture.co.uk
9. Meadowsweet Farming Co Farm Walks with option to taste their beef over a light lunch. £10/pp. Sat 17th & 24th July. Witham Friary. meadowsweetbeef.co.uk
10. Somerset Feast at Shatwell Farm. On The Spoon run by Lucas Hollweg will be serving laid-back feasts with ingredients the area has to offer. Sat 23rd July from 7pm. onthespoon.co.uk
11. Black Bee Honey will be offering hive infections and honey tastings at Homeacres in Alhampton. Friday 22nd 2-3:30pm. £15/pp blackbeehoney.com
12. ‘The Craft Tradition in Somerset’ a talk and supper with artist Kate Lynch who has draw/painted 30 artisans and collection their stories. Her artwork will be shown at cafe, The Bridge in Langport with a talk and supper on Thursday 21st 6-9pm. thebridgelangport.co.uk katelynch.co.uk

And now for the DRINK side of the trail

Aimee Hartley of wine magazine Above Sea Level and Creative Studio Twelve Noon has offered her top choices for where to visit over the Somerset Trail

1. Wraxall Vineyard - Producers of sparkling white and rosé wines, this beautiful vineyard is set overlooking the Somerset Levels. Well worth a visit to sample English wines! Free tours & Tasting: Fri 22: 2pm / Sat 23: 11am. Optional wine tasting, £5/pp. Somerset cheese platter, £5/pp wraxallvineyard.co.uk
2. Dowding’s Apple Juice - Walk in the orchards, see the magic that happens at 'Apple HQ’, guided tours, apple and cheese-themed picnic boxes. Open daily during the Festival except Mon 18: 10-5p dowdings.co.uk
3. Cider at The Newt - You do have to pay to get into Thew Newt but it’s a wonderful experience if you do. There’s a full days worth of activities to enjoy - acres of splendid gardens, woodland, farmland and cider orchards. The Newt has its own bakery, butchery and farm shop thenewtinsomerset.com