Shortwood Barn Sarah & Justin May 01761 241612
Litton Sarah mob: 07968 019299
Bath Justin mob: 07825 664710
BA3 4PS
Welcome to Shortwood Barn
To help you make the most of your stay we have included some information and links to places and things to do in the local area. Enjoy!
Sections
Eating Out
Places to visit
Stocking up
Local walks
Eating Out
Locally; PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE FOR ANY WEEKEND MEAL
http://thelitton.co.ukLocal village pub, 5 min walk.Great pub, great interior after major refurbishment
http://www.theponyandtrap.co.uk This is a highly recommended gourmet pub with a michelin star six miles from Shortwood Barn. You will need to book in advance of visiting the barn.
Honest pub grub; Ring O Bells Hinton Blewett (5 minute drive - 25 minute walk)
http://www.ringobellshinton.co.uk/
Salt and Malt - Take away or eat-in fish and chips...run by the michelin-starred Pony and Trap. Anyone fancying just a short stroll, the Salt and Malt fish restaurant is located on Chew Valley Lake...so you can have a meal (may require a booking) and a gentle stroll around that side of the lake. Map and reservations through..https://saltmalt.com/chew-valley/
Wells - worth a visit as beautiful cathedral and Bishops Palace.
Somerset Levels - between Wells and Glastonbury is the Sheppey Inn at Godney
Very individualistic interior...and good food, own gin infusions…really interesting decor. Clue...doesn't look like a pub from the outside
Bristol
There are several main areas to eat in. The Harbourside is very hipster and has many bars and restaurants, some chains, some independents. Cabots Circus is a new shopping centre with everything from Nandos to a Brasserie Blanc.
Bath
Most restaurants in Bath are small scale as they are constrained by the existing architecture, You will find a number of standard brasseries (Cote, Jamie’s Italian) to the Michelin list http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/baths-best-28-restaurants-according-21793
Places to visit
Wells
The Cathedral has many wondrous sights… take in the Chapter House, and Vicars Close (which is the street that houses the choir). Entrance to the cathedral is free, though there is a voluntary donation box. If the opportunity arises, try an Evensong which is usually 5.00 pm in the Quire section. It is a religious service but features the world famous Wells Cathedral Choir…usually lasts about an hour and the Quire is a fabulous medieval part of the cathedral, http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/
Bishops Palace has been home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for over 800 years and this stunning medieval palace is open for all to enjoy. Tickets are required. https://bishopspalace.org.uk/
If anyone is a fan of Hot Fuzz then they will recognise the market place et al as the whole film was shot in Wells. http://www.wellswalkingtours.co.uk/
It's also pleasant to have a coffee, sandwich, lunch in the antegarden outside the Swan hotel. It's on the opposite side of the street to the hotel, but has great views over the green to the cathedral. It may be popular at this time of year.
Wookey Hole & Cheddar Gorge
Now offers a lot of different activities . http://www.wookey.co.uk
http://www.cheddargorge.co.uk For walks, rock climbing and World famous cheese
Caving in Cheddar (even does Hen Parties!?) http://www.adventurecaving.co.uk/about-cheddar-cav...
Chew Valley is a very popular area for Hot Air Ballooning, companies operating out of Bath, Bristol and Chew Valley from March-October.
Bath, 12 miles away , as a Roman city has much to offer with bus and walking tours. It also has a Theatre, numerous cinemas, restaurants, bars and shops. Visit both the old Spa and the New Thermal Spa in which you can bathe with a rooftop view of Bath. See link below.
https://visitbath.co.uk/plan-your-visit/visitor-information-centre
Bristol 12 miles away, a vibrant city with a rich history of innovation and the slave trade. It has a number of festivals running from June to August which includes the famous Balloon Fiesta. See below for details
Glastonbury 10 miles away is an area steeped in myth and legend in addition to hosting the World Famous Festival in June.
Street, just beyond Glastonbury has a marvellous lido and Shopping Village hosting numerous factory outlets. https://www.clarksvillage.co.uk/
https://www.glastonbury.co.uk/pages/
Longleat is a 35 minute drive; https://www.longleat.co.uk/
https://www.longleat.co.uk/assets/videos/safari-21...
Stourhead, a fabulous National Trust property is also a 35 minute drive; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead\
Stocking Up
Locally there are 2 very good farm shops, both have cafes attached
http://www.newmanorfarmshop.co.uk/ This supplies meat from its own farm next door and therefore has a great butchers
https://www.farringtons.co.uk/ This also offers a Playbarn for younger kids
There is a Spar in West Harptree
Wells has a Farmers market on Wednesday and Saturday 9-3pm
Supermarkets: Wells has a Tesco, Waitrose and Lidl. There is also a large Tesco at Midsomer Norton.
Local walks
Reservoir and Hinton Blewett
Turn right out of the drive, go 170 yards and just before the bridge is a footpath on the right...it has a large Bristol Water sign just inside. As you walk the upper reservoir expands and where there are pine trees on the opposite bank look hard for the herons...probably just black ones in winter, but throughout the year there are white and grey ones as well. The footpath will turn into a small road which goes downhill with the lower reservoir on your left. The small road is private for Bristol Water and will probably have only a few walkers. Follow it around to a gate at the road exit. Turn right out of the gate..walking past a small farm to a proper road where you turn right..go 100 yards and cross a small bridge and turn right again. The road now rises steeply uphill for a mile until you reach a T junction. Turn right and walk about 500 yards through Hinton Blewett to the pub for refreshments .
To return, walk straight ahead from the pub down Litton Lane. After a mile you will descend a steep hill and halfway down is a footpath sign on your right....you can take this and walk across the fields to the barn...or stay on the road and come in via the driveway
* There are alternatives routes which take you across fields all the way. Please ask us for directions
Walks to the Village Pub – the Litton
2 choices – long or short..both across fields
Short;
Walk down the drive, turn right, go 170 yards and on the left (opposite side of the reservoir entrance)…there are 3 separate paths…all lead to the pub so doesn’t matter though we prefer the first before the bridge.
Long;
Go onto Shortwood Common and head diagonally right, walking below Higher Shortwood Farm. You are now on a recognized footpath. Go through gates and field to the next lane which you go straight over. There are gates and styles over the next few fields until it brings it out on Hollow Marsh track. Cross the track and head through first field and over small stream…stay right and walk up the side of Chewton Woods until you can see footpath signs on your right which bring right back into the village. About 3 miles.
Walk to East Harptree and the Waldegrave Pub
Turn right out of the drive, go 170 yards and just before the bridge is a footpath on the right...it has a large Bristol Water sign just inside. As you walk the upper reservoir expands and where there are pine trees on the opposite bank look hard for the herons...probably just black ones in winter, but throughout the year there are white and grey ones as well. The footpath will turn into a small road which goes downhill with the lower reservoir on your left. The small road is private for Bristol Water and will probably have only a few walkers. Follow it around to a gate at the road exit. Turn right out of the gate..walking past a small farm to a proper road where you turn right..go 100 yards and cross a small bridge and turn left. You are now walking along a road with the River Chew on your left, At T junction turn left and walk 1mile to cross roads and go straight over, Go uphill through East Harptree village until you hit next T Junction,, either turn right and go 100 yds to find pub…or turn left to head home. Walk about 1.5miles until you hit T Junction. Turn left and walk downhill to next T junction after 600 yards. Turn right and then quickly left (after about 20 yards) and walk down small lane to first turning on right which leads you back to the reservoir and home. About 4.5 miles
Please also find Book of Walks in the Mendip Hills and OS Maps on the book shelf.
Please contact us with any queries and help yourselves to the salad, herbs, vegetables and fruits! Best wishes Sarah & Justin