There are road trips where things go horribly wrong, and then something, or somewhere happens that restores your faith in spontaneous adventures.

Our visit to Wells, a city steeped in history and cinematic fame, was thankfully one of the latter. As a devoted fan of The Cornetto Trilogy, the chance to explore the filming locations of Hot Fuzz was too good to resist.

But as always, we couldn’t just stop at movie history – there were ghosts to find, folklore to uncover, and, apparently, a local cat to befriend.

Arriving in Wells was like stepping onto a film set, because, well, it basically was one. From the iconic marketplace to the cathedral backdrop, the city was instantly recognisable to any Hot Fuzz enthusiast.

We found ourselves unintentionally quoting the film at every turn – muttering about a ‘great big bushy beard’ and questioning whether everyone really did have their own little piece of the country.

Of course, we didn’t just limit ourselves to cinematic nostalgia. Wells is rich with history and eerie tales, and we were keen to dig into its paranormal side. We learned of spirits said to wander near the Bishop’s Palace, shadowy figures glimpsed in the quiet streets after dark, and folklore passed down through generations.

The atmosphere of the city, with its winding lanes and medieval charm, only added to the experience.

Along the way, we also met the local celebrity: a cat who seemed entirely unimpressed by our enthusiasm but allowed us a moment of its precious time. Unlike the ghosts, this feline was very much real and held court like it owned the place (which, let’s be honest, it probably did).

Wells was beautiful, and unlike our ill-fated Bristol trip, this was a place we could actually picture ourselves returning to. And, to our delight, we did manage to see the famous swans, gracefully gliding along as if they knew they were part of the city’s charm. And though we didn’t manage to catch one, it was the perfect touch to an already magical visit.

We’ll be back, Wells. Next time, perhaps we’ll uncover even more of its secrets – but even if we don’t, the ghosts, folklore, and a certain cat will be waiting for us.