NESTLED in a secluded valley and sheltered by the Ridgeway hills, Abbotsbury is one of the most charming villages in the country. And that's a fact: a recent study organised by furniture company Arlo & Jacob ranked Abbotsbury the ninth most tranquil village in the UK. Laura Hanton paid a visit to find out exactly what makes it so special.

PERHAPS best known for its swannery, Abbotsbury is home to more than 600 of the peaceful white birds. Believed to have been established by Benedictine monks in the 11th century, the sanctuary is the only managed colony of nesting mute swans in the world. Unsurprisingly, then, the attraction welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Yet after I took a stroll through the village on a rainy October morning and had a chat to some of the friendliest locals around, it turns out Abbotsbury has a lot more to offer than just its swans...

Sandra Boyles, 59, and Steve Beer, 53, moved to Abbotsbury last December and took over the Old Schoolhouse Tea Rooms on Back Street. With a wood burner for the winter months and a courtyard garden for when the sun decides to shine, the café is situated in the centre of the village and welcomes customers throughout the day.

"If I could have chosen anywhere to run a tea room, it would have been here," Sandra says. "It's a very tranquil place, actually, and it's such a tourist trap. I'm amazed at the mix of nationalities that visit."

Entering the café, visitors are met by a tantalising display of baked goods and tasty treats, from scones and cookies to brownies and tarts. Steve adds that everything is handmade on site, including the famous Dorset Apple Cake, served warm with clotted cream.

With a 15 year career in catering, Sandra explains how opening a tea room was always a dream of hers. "My nan always used to say that if she had enough money, she would buy me a café. She never did, and it got to the point where it was now or never, so we decided to make the move from North Oxfordshire to here. We haven't looked back since. We've never had such a warm welcome into a village; everyone is encouraged to be part of the community."

That sense of community is shared by Sue Fox, 59, who has lived in Abbotsbury for 26 years and has worked in the Dansel Gallery on Rodden Row for more than two decades. Specialising in contemporary woodwork, the shop sells work by more than 200 craftsmen in the country, many of whom are from the south west region.

"In summer, the village gets very busy with tourists and visitors, but in the winter its more our own," Sue says. "We all band together. The upcoming Candles on the Hill event celebrating St Catherine's Day will be raising money for local charities, and we have regular events that do the same. It's a lovely village, and a really peaceful place."

For Patricia Barker, who lives nearby in Littlebredy, it's the range of local stores and small enterprises that make Abbotsbury so unique.

"There's something for everyone," she says. "That's what makes it different from other villages. It's fortunate to have some lovely businesses, a lot of which you wouldn't find elsewhere."

In addition to the exceptional Dansel Gallery, one such place is The Clock Workshop, located on West Street, which sells, restores, and repairs timekeepers of all different shapes and sizes, from wall clocks and mantel clocks to Longcase clocks and bracket clocks. A more recent addition to the village is Purple Nanny, situated across the road from the Old Schoolhouse Tea Rooms. The shop, where everything is purple (even the owner's hair), sells an eclectic array of vegan, eco-friendly and cruelty-free products, from soap and shampoo to pet toys and cleaning products.

As for a local staple that cannot go unmentioned, Bride Valley Farm Shop sells only high quality produce from the local area. The store's beef comes from cows raised at Longlands Farm in Littlebredy, while pork, lamb, poultry and eggs are carefully sourced from a selected range of producers.

To determine the country's most tranquil destinations, Arlo & Jacob collated a list of the most popular locations mentioned in online articles and blog posts before analysing each village by a series of metrics, including population size and miles from the nearest major city.

Timothy Newsome, marketing director at Arlo & Jacob, said: "It’s really important to take time for ourselves to relax and get away from our daily routines, no matter how hard it may seem. Travelling to a new destination is greatly beneficial and allows us to get a change of scenery and switch off from the responsibilities we usually face each day. It’s great to see so many picturesque spots to choose from across the UK to get the retreat we are all in need of. From historic English villages with Instagram-worthy rentable cottages, to stunning backdrops of mountains and valleys in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all of these locations offer the perfect setting for escape, relaxation and pristine tranquillity."

According to the report, it was Abbotsbury's low population of just 481 that was a key factor in helping the village enter the top 10, with its high number of 180 rentable cottages making it the ideal peaceful getaway.

The UK's ultimate peaceful break was determined as Plockton in Wester Ross, Scotland. Famously known for being the jewel of the Highlands, the village is home to a population of just 378 and is 184 miles from the nearest city. England's overall winner was Castle Combe in the Cotswolds, a village recognised in Hollywood as one of the nation's prettiest after being featured in blockbuster films such as Stardust, War Horse and The Wolf Man. Boasting just three rental cottages, holidays in the village are widely sought after.

Cornwall and Wiltshire rank as the top two most tranquil counties in England. For more details about the most tranquil towns and villages in the country, visit www.arloandjacob.com. To find out more about what Abbotsbury has to offer, head to www.abbotsbury.co.uk.