I’d just turned off the A36 onto that winding lane near Westbury when it happened – my sat-nav decided to throw a wobbly and sent me down a muddy farm track that wasn’t even on the map. There I was, white-knuckling the wheel of my little Fiesta, convinced I’d end up in some farmer’s cow field, all because Google Maps had a sense of humour. A quick reverse and a sheepish wave to the bemused chap mending his fence later, and I finally spotted the sign for Lakeside Lodges (Pet). What a relief – and what a cracking first impression.

Pulling up to our pet-friendly lodge on that crisp Friday afternoon, I was chuffed to bits. Tucked away on the edge of a serene lake just outside Westbury, these lodges feel like a proper hidden gem, the sort of place you stumble upon by accident and thank your lucky stars. Ours was a cosy two-bedroom number with a veranda overlooking the water, decked out in that comfy, no-fuss style – think plush sofas, a wood-burning stove (though we didn’t need it in September), and a kitchen stocked with everything but the chef. Bruce, my daft Labrador, was straight out the door, tail wagging like a windscreen wiper in a storm, sniffing every blade of grass. The owners had left a welcome pack with local biscuits and a note saying “Make yourselves at home” – proper friendly, that.

First impressions? Blissful seclusion. No thumping music or screaming kids, just the lap of the lake and birdsong. It’s only a few miles from Westbury’s high street, but you’d never know it. We’d picked this spot for a three-day getaway precisely because it promised that off-the-beaten-track vibe, and boy, did it deliver from the off. Unpacking done, I grabbed the dog leads and we wandered the private paths around the lakeside. That’s when the magic kicked in – hidden gems everywhere, the kind you only find when you let yourself get properly lost.

Wandering anti-clockwise from the lodge, we veered off the main path onto what looked like a forgotten towpath. Turned out it hugged an overgrown stretch of the Kennet and Avon Canal, abandoned by most walkers. Reeds whispering in the breeze, narrowboats moored up like sleepy dragons, and not a soul in sight. Bruce splashed about in the shallows while I perched on a mossy bench, sipping tea from a thermos. Pure poetry, that – a secret waterway world right on our doorstep, far from the touristy bits further afield.

Emboldened, we pushed on, veering right through a gap in the hedgerow that wasn’t on any signpost. Blimey, what a find: a pocket-sized nature reserve with wildflower meadows buzzing with butterflies and a boardwalk over a lily-pad pond. I’d no idea it was there – probably a local wildlife spot kept quiet on purpose. We spent the afternoon getting gloriously lost in the undergrowth, Bruce flushing out pheasants and me laughing at my own two left feet tripping over roots. Light was fading when we stumbled onto a hidden picnic spot by a weir, water tumbling like it was auditioning for a chocolate advert. Sat there with cheese sarnies from the lodge’s welcome hamper, watching the sun dip behind the willows. Humour in the mishap? Aye, that earlier sat-nav farce felt like fate nudging us towards these accidental discoveries.

As the stars popped out over the lake that first evening, I had a quiet moment on the veranda, pint in hand, Bruce snoring at my feet. In the rush of everyday life back home, I forget how restorative it is to ditch the plans and embrace the wander. Lakeside Lodges isn’t just a stay; it’s a launchpad for those serendipitous finds that make Wiltshire feel like your own private playground. If you’re after first impressions that stick, get yourself lost here – you won’t regret it.