Willow Barn Bed &Breakfast

Duck Lane . Wick St Lawrence . Nr Weston Super Mare . Somerset . UK

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THE LOCALITY     

The quite little historic village of Wick St Lawrence lies in the heart of low lying moorland, north-east of Weston-Super-Mare. It is reached through little winding lanes, lined with willow trees and hedges, and is some of the most unspoilt countryside of North Somerset.   There is no doubt that the village was one of the important "Guard Stations" in Roman times, placed at intervals from Portishead to Porlock.   Although in a truly rural location, there is a selection of Pubs and Restaurants within ten minutes drive. The High Street of Worle (2 miles) provides for everyday shopping needs.

Somerset is truly a 'County of Contrasts', from the sandy beaches along the coast, sleepy villages with quaint shops, home-baked bread, antiques and historic inns, medieval cities such as Wells with its beautiful cathedral and nearby Bath with its spa dating from Roman times. 

There are the scenic Mendip and Quantock Hills, a landscape of woods and open moorland rich in wildlife. To the north are the Mendip Hills famous for Cheddar Gorge (the largest in Britain) and honeycombed with caves and caverns - both Cheddar and Wookey Hole have caves open to visitors and you can even try Adventure Potholing or rock climbing in organised groups You can try caving, fishing, golf, cycling, bird watching, skiing, and horse riding or just walking.

The Roman City of Bath The Roman City of Bath is a world heritage site. Because of this, it has a multitude of visitor attractions that can more than fill a full day’s visit.   See how the Romans lived - tour the bathing complex built around a natural hot spring Drink the spa water whilst listening to classical music from the Pump Room trio or quartet Gaze at the resplendent fan vaulted ceiling in the 15th century Abbey Stroll around the curved terrace of the Royal Crescent Visit the Assembly Rooms - the heart of 18th century social activity in the City Walk, like 'Beau' Nash, over the 18th century Pulteney Bridge lined with its tiny shops Visit a host of museums and galleries - costumes, postage stamps, art, American life etc… Let us book you into a production at the Theatre Royal with a pre dinner meal Take tea at a quaint tea Shoppe dating to 1482, plus a great deal more….. Bath is a compact city, so shopping and eating facilities are all close by, with most places an easy walk from the city centre.  www.americanmuseum.org.uk  & www.janeausten.co.uk  Exmoor National Park Exmoor National Park is an area of high wild moorlands grazed by both domesticated sheep and cattle and also by red deer. Within the park there is an abundance of wildlife & birds - from buzzards to skylarks. It is especially famous for its tough little Exmoor Ponies that roam free within the park. In fact, this is the area that inspired the story of Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore.     The picturesque Woollen Yarn Market, the water mill and hilltop castle at Dunster   You could choose to visit the home of Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797. This is where he wrote his famous The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.   Ø     Bristol – A Voyage of Discovery In British history, Bristol has always been an important port.  With the harbour area at its centre, it remains the thriving commercial centre of South West England. A host of sights await visitors, many connected with old seafaring days. You may remember that John Cabot sailed from here in 1497 and discovered North America, naming it after his friend Richard a Meryck! What might you find is such an historic place?  Walk the streets where men were press-ganged in centuries past (we will guarantee your safe passage!)   Take a ferry tour to see the sights at water level. See the 17th century inn that gave inspiration to the novels Robinson Crusoe and Treasure Island - The Llandoger Trow.   Take in a show at the oldest theatre in Britain dating to 1776 - a truly delightful experience at The Bristol Old Vic.   Clifton Suspension Bridge Bristol is also famous for its connections with Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859). This great designer pioneered the building of the railway from London to Bristol and South Wales using wrought iron. He is also famous for building the magnificent Suspension Bridge that towers over the River Avon and for constructing the first transatlantic steamer SS Great Britain in 1837.  As a bonus, alongside is Matthew, a replica of the ship Cabot sailed in to the Americas - you just need to see it to wonder just how they survived that trip over 500 years ago! see www.at-bristol.co.uk & www.ss-great-britain.com    Somerset – Myths. Legends, Cheese and Cider   Somerset is a large rural county that offers a tremendous range of places to go and things to do.  www.somersetlevels.co.uk &www.coates-willowbaskets.co.uk      See how Cheddar Cheese is made and visit the world famous Cheddar Gorge with its underground caves complex  www.cheddarcaves.co.uk  After passing through Penniless Porch, view the stunning façade of the smallest cathedral city in England located in Wells. Then walk down the oldest continuously inhabited street in Europe   Climb Glastonbury Tor for spectacular Somerset countryside views. Visit Glastonbury Abbey where legends say that King Arthur is burried. Spot the Witch of Wookey Hole. Then see the mill that produced paper for US Confederate banknotes issued at Richmond, Virginia in 1863 www.wookey.co.uk King Arthur Country The West Country is at the heartland of the fabled King Arthur. From here legend tells about a great warrior-king who ruled England long ago from Camelot, where he held court amongst fair ladies and the heroic Knights of the Round Table. Although the stories are fictitious, the likelihood is that at the core of them lie distant memories of a real man – a powerful war-leader of the Britons who railed against the invading Saxons during the 5th and 6th centuries after the Roman army had withdrawn and left the province of Britain to its own devices. A number of enjoyable tours can be made of the Arthurian sites around the South West region of England. A short ride to the north is the bustling city of Glastonbury, which has very strong links with the traditions of Arthur and the Holy Grail. According to legend, the founder of Glastonbury Abbey was Joseph of Arimathea, acclaimed as the man who took Jesus’ body down from the cross for burial. It was said that he bought with him to England the cup of the Last Supper, in which he had caught some of the blood welling from Christ’s wounded side. The Grail is said to lie deep in the Chalice Well, near to the base of the tall mound known as Glastonbury Tor, whose waters have a reddish tinge. Close to the foot of the Tor, Joseph thrust his staff into the ground and it miraculously took root and put out buds. It was the ancestor of the celebrated Glastonbury Thorn tree, which flowers every winter, around old Christmas Day in January. There is one of these trees in the abbey grounds today and one outside the parish church.   Take a long stroll among the fantastic ruins of the Glastonbury Abby, and, if you’re lucky, sit in the old cookhouse and listen to the stories of a monk as he recites the daily toil of the Abby’s inhabitants in the 12th Century. In 1191, the Glastonbury monks, digging in their cemetery discovered what they maintained was the grave of King Arthur and his queen, the beautiful Guinevere. The bodies were afterwards reburied in a black marble tomb in the Abbey church in front of the high altar; this site is marked amongst the ruins today.

The Cotswolds 

A memorable tour of quintessentially English towns and villages – passing through Tetbury near to Highgrove, home of HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. We move on to Bourton on the Water, then Stow on the Wold and Broadway to stroll through the picturesque streets, browsing the exquisite little shops viewing the honey coloured stone built houses that typify the area.

Stately Homes - Longleat House and Wilton House

These are two of the grand houses of England. Longleat was built in Elizabethan times in Italian Renaissance style; the estate also comes complete with a Capability Brown landscape. The house is festooned with gorgeous decorations, from gilded and painted Italian ceilings to inland marquetry work and sumptuous marble. The rooms are full of treasures - tapestries, paintings, rare books and manuscripts.

The present Lord Bath, who resides in the house, has a very unusual and personal artistic style – just ask, and we may be able to set up one of his special murals tour through his private rooms - you may even meet him.

At Wilton House, home of the Earl of Pembroke, you'll see a glorious house filled with beautiful artefacts. Wilton was the ancient capital of Wessex and the site where the house stands was originally an Abbey dating to 773 AD. The present house was started in 1543 but has been added to ever since. There's a Victorian Laundry to see and Tudor Kitchens well as many rooms that have been used by the Kings and Queens of England over the centuries.