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WHAT'S ON IN SOMERSET

Places to Visit | Activities | Places to Eat | Eat In

The beautiful heritage city of Bath is less than 40 minutes away with an array of shopping outlets, boutiques, cafes and restaurants as well as famous sites such as The Roman Baths, Pump Rooms, Thermae Bath Spa and the Royal Crescent.

 

Bath was home for Jane Austen from 1801. If you drive to Bath via Norton St Philip take a look at the George Inn, said to be one of the oldest if not the oldest tavern in Britain and dating from the 14th or 15th century. Samuel Pepys, the great diarist, stayed there. 

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We're close to Longleat Safari Park and the Lions of Longleat, which is a great family day out and Babington House is just round the corner for club members looking for some pampering.

 

Also well placed for a visit to the City of Wells with the Cathedral, where you can admire the oldest continually working clock in the UK and the superb architecture both inside and out - the West Front now adorned with an Antony Gormley sculpture.

 

Here as well is the moated Bishops Palace, the wonderful Vicars' Close, one of the best surviving Medieval residential streets in England, and the stone memorial to Harry Patch the last survivor of WW1 who died aged 111.

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Looking for exercise and not to be missed is a visit to Cheddar Gorge. There's a 4 mile walk up and down the gorge, which is well worth the effort. Don't forget to buy some cheddar cheese. Add in Wookey Hole Caves, which, apart from the caves, has an original working paper mill, mirror maze, cave museum and woodland walks.

 

For cyclists try the route from Bradford-on-Avon to Bath along the towpath, or jump in a canoe. There's swimming at the Creative Aquatic Swimming Pool near Frome and, for the sea, a day out to Brean Beach or the South coast is possible, with Durdle Door and Studland Bay being popular destinations. Scuba Diving at Vobster Quay is very popular and only 5 minutes away.

Close by is the village of Mells with a delightful café, selling local produce and a great family pub. Frome, 5 miles away, is an historic market town built on steep hills with cobbled streets. There's a vibrant atmosphere, with plenty of quirky, independent shops and cafes. The local market is every Wednesday and Saturday. Take a visit to Nunney Castle, which is a picturesque moated medieval castle, dating from the 1370’s. The walk to the castle involves a moderate hill down into the village where there is a local inn and café.

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Photo by Simon Harmer on Unsplash

Not too distant is Stourhead Gardens, an English 18th-century view of Arcadian paradise owned by the National Trust, and Glastonbury Abbey, connected with legend to a degree that is unparalleled by any other Abbey in England. This historic site attracts visitors from around the world for its history, heritage, myths and legends as well as for its spiritual enrichment. Stonehenge is only 75 minutes away and known as one of the Wonders of the World and the best-known prehistoric monument in Europe. Lacock Abbey (National Trust) with the Fox-Talbot Museum and Westonbirt Arboretum are other options.

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Photo by Sung Shin on Unsplash

LOCAL EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR:

 

  • Frome Independent Market - First Sunday of every month

  • Frome Agricultural & Cheese Show – On a Saturday mid September, West Woodlands Show Ground, with a large selection of animals as well as stalls.

  • Royal Bath and West Show - The four day Agricultural Show includes action packed events for all the family, and a haven for all enthusiasts of rural life with a diverse range of trade stands from food to 4x4s, (Annually - End of May)

  • Bath Christmas Markets - (Annually - End of November/Early December)

  • Christmas at Longleat - (early November through New Year)

Being a country location means that it makes all the difference to have a car. For non drivers, or people visiting you, the closest railway station is Frome, which is 15 minutes away with a direct link to London Paddington via Westbury taking about 2 hours 15 minutes. Alternative routes are via Bath Spa, with an average journey time of 93 minutes. There is also a service between Frome and London Waterloo. Taxi services to and from the railway stations are available.

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If you wish to dine in, we have relationships with local chefs and caterers and use the neighbouring farm shops such as Farleigh Road Farm Shop, which has an in house butcher, a lovely café and provides ready made meals as well as excellent bread from the Bertinet bakery in Bath. Gujerati curry meals are made by Bini, who lives 20 minutes away. Sausage rolls can be bought from Little Jack Horners in Upper Vobster. Fresh fish is delivered to the farm by Paul Hart from Radstock and Adrian Cayford in Frome supplies locally sourced meat.

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For eating out we have a large number of excellent local restaurants to cater for most tastes. We know about allergies. All this is available in our digital guidebooks and we send you a link when you've booked. It makes it so much simpler. To provide a flavour for your Somerset stay our abbreviated list includes:

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