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As well as sightseeing in Bath and Bristol, we can also recommend some very local attractions. We love being able to recommend them as surprisingly we have quite a few that are very close to Fern Cottage. Some of them can even be visited on foot, while the others are just a very short car journey away (usually anything from 5 – 15 minutes drive).
If you want to pre-plan some of your excursions before your arrival at Fern Cottage, the Tourist Board in Bristol and Bath have some great ideas – please go to their respective web sites on www.visitbristol.co.uk and www.visitbath.co.uk for their up-to-the-minute events/festivals or what’s on in theatres etc.
We also have in our Guests’ Information Packs details of “Where to Visit” including all the attractions in Bath and Bristol. Guest Information Packs are in all of the guest accommodation rooms. In the breakfast room we have prepared brochures with leaflets on “Visiting Bath”, “Visiting Bristol”, “Other Places of Interest”, “Walking and Cycling”, together with books on the Cotswolds and Somerset.
We have details and directions in the Guest Information Packs to get to all the local attractions listed below:
Dyrham Park (5 minutes drive away) National Trust property.Details supplied from The National Trust web site: www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Gardens open all year – house is only open from March to September Spectacular late 17th-century mansion, garden and deer park
Willsbridge Mill (8 minutes drive away) Details supplied from their web site www.forestofavon.org.uk/willsbridgemill.html
Telephone 0117 932 6885 or email
ruthworsley@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
The Wick and Golden Valley Nature Reserve (8 minutes drive away) details supplied from their website: http://www.golden-valley.info
You can see the Peregrine Falcons in the Quarry. The Wick Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is an important and unique place. There are few reserves in South Gloucestershire with such a diverse habitat so readily accessible to the local community. The range of habitats includes the river corridor of the River Boyd, mature woodland, scrub, steep valley slopes and unimproved limestone grassland.
Peregrine Watch goes on the net We are all waiting to see if the peregrine falcons return to their nesting site at Wick Quarry again this year. If so it will be the 10th year they will have successfully raised their young at the active aggregates quarry. To mark the anniversary a unique project has been devised by the Wildspaces Partnership Project. This year for the first time a webcamera has been installed close to the nesting site. If all goes well we should be able to see the pair of peregrines night and day through the nesting season. As far as we know this is the first such camera in an active quarry. The project involves the landowners Cemex, South Gloucestershire Council, The Hawk and Owl Trust, English Nature and Eco-Watch. The camera and its installation was funded through English Nature and DEFRA’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund. A website is currently being built to enable local people and people from around the world to look in on the falcons. Bat caveTwo underground tunnels have been given a make over to attract local bats to the reserve. With funding from English Nature the disused turbine shafts have been converted to enable bat to hibernate during the winter. In a joint project between South Gloucestershire Council, the Friends of Wick Golden Valley, Cemex, the Avon Bat Group and the Batscapes Project, we have been able to create new habitats for the 7 different species of bats found at the site to use.
The Avon Valley Railway (8 minutes drive away) details supplied from their website: http://www.avonvalleyrailway.org
The Avon Valley Railway is more than just a steam train ride, offering a whole new experience for some or a nostalgic memory for others. Steam trains run to the edge of the scenic Avon Valley. Special events arranged throughout the year. Courses on learning how to drive a steam engine. Call talking timetable for details: 0117 932 7296. Monthly Sunday lunch trains. Site entry is free, train rides are payable. Steam trains operate Sundays and bank holidays from April to October, plus Tues - Thursday in school holidays. Diesel trains operate most Saturdays, April -August. Also operates weekends at Christmas. Combined rail and river boat trips operate on all steam days from the beginning of April to the end of September except 6/7 May and 30th July. Talking timetable: 0117 932 7296 Opening Times 2007 Opening 01/01/2007 - 31/12/2007 Walking Locally:
We are lucky to have some lovely nearby places to walk.
Overscourt Woods Owned by the Forest of Avon is in Siston Lane and is just 5 minutes walk away. details from www.forestofavon.org.uk
Pete and I did this walk the other afternoon - absolutely worth doing - you can take the car from Fern Cottage and park on the grass if you prefer, as Siston Lane doesn't have any grass verges and is narrow. Fantastic views of Siston Court and the 11th Century St Annes Church and across to open fields. Very peaceful walk. The Forestry commission have made the area a very pleasant place to walk around.
The Forest Enterprise (part of the Forestry Commission) purchased land at Overscourt Farm in 1998 and planted Overscourt Wood. The site was further extended following the purchase of land at Webbs Heath Farm in 2001. The result is 87 hectares (207 acres) of new woodland and open space with full public access and wonderful views of Kingswood, Bristol and the Cotswold Edge.
Turn right out of the drive and take the next right into Siston Lane. Siston Lane is quite narrow, so be careful when walking down it keeping to grass verges where possible. Carry on past St Annes Church (11th Century) Follow the lane until you go over a bridge (Siston Brook) and take a first left along a farm track immediately after the bridge over Siston Brook. The site can also be accessed via a number of public footpaths, (OS Explorer 155, grid reference: 688 748 for car park).
Access The terrain varies from level to relatively steep, all paths within the wood are grass. There is a small parking area on site and a number of public footpaths cross the area. Improved facilities, including parking, are planned.
The Forest of Avon Community Footpath Walk
Pete and I enjoyed the Forest of Avon Community Footpath which is accessed just across the road from Fern Cottage. You can see deer in the fields and the views are beautiful. During the long summer evenings you can take this route by foot to get to the Rose and Crown in Pucklechurch.
The Dramway Details from The Forest of Avon www.theforestofavon.org.uk
A very pretty walk The Dramway is a 15km/9 mile linear walk, following sections of the route of a nineteenth century tramway which carried coal from Coalpit Heath in the Bristol coalfield, down to the river Avon. The route gives you access to the fascinating remains of the Dramway which can be seen along the way. There are also opportunities to create your own circular walks, using existing footpaths to connect sections of the Dramway with nearby villages and towns.
AccessSurfaces along the route are generally good, with much of it being on the original Dramway route, which was a horse-drawn railway. The path gently rolls down hill to the River Avon and there are no steep inclines. How to get onto the route... Turn left out of drive. Go straight down to the bottom of the hill. Go into the underpass and follow the signs to the right for the Dramway.
The Bristol and Bath Cycle PathThe Bristol and Bath Railway Path is enjoyable either by bike or walking. From Fern Cottage, just turn left out of the drive, go down to the bottom of the hill. At the roundabout go into the underpass and go left sign posted Bristol and Bath Railway Path.You can actually get right into the centre of Bath. You will go right past the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton. The pathway is quite level so not too much hard work. By bike it is about 11 miles following the Railway path.
Acton Court (approximately 15 minutes drive away) information from Acton Court’s web site: www.actoncourt.com
A beautifully conserved Tudor House built by Nicholas Poyntz for the pleasure of Henry VIII, at Iron Acton, Bristol. In 1535, one of England’s most colourful kings, Henry VIII, came to stay at Acton Court with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, while on his summer Progress around the West Country. The owner of Acton Court, Nicholas Poyntz, wanted to impress his sovereign. So for Henry’s pleasure, he built a magnificent new East Wing on to the existing moated manor house.
The new wing was a splendid testament to Nicholas Poyntz’s loyalty to his King. He went to immense trouble and expense to impress Henry, decorating the state apartments lavishly and fashionably. He was well rewarded as it is thought he was knighted during the royal visit. Today, the East Wing which was built in just nine months comprises most of what remains at Acton Court. It offers a rare example of 16th century royal state apartments and some decorations which are said to be the finest of their kind in England.
Acton Court will open to the public from 12 June to 19
August. There are tours of the house and grounds every day except Mondays
and when there are Special Events or pre-booked Group Visits. To check
availability during the summer season
ring the information line
on 01454 228 224
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