HOME ~ ACCOMMODATION ~ LOCATION ~ HEN, BIRTHDAY & FAMILY WEEKENDS ~ WALKING ~ MOUNTAIN BIKING ~ HORSE RIDING ~ PRICES & DIRECTIONS

Welcome to your weekend (or longer) in the country!

Whether you're looking for somewhere to bring your extended family together for a special occasion, have an upmarket hen weekend or just get away from it all for a quiet break, Ashcroft is just the place to relax and chill out. If you can tear yourself away from the stunning views, make it a weekend to remember with anything from a relaxing session at Bath's Thermae Spa, to a Wild Food Walk on the Mendips!

We are happy to offer a limited number of exclusive self-catering weekends (and longer during the school holidays) for larger group. It's like a holiday cottage, with exclusive use of all facilities including the lounge, kitchen and garden, the house can sleep up to 15.

Ashcroft (formerly The Cottage) is a pretty detached cottage, extended and renovated to a high standard, in an exceptional location. The house is set in 1/4 acre of gardens, with apple, cherry & maple trees, and wonderful views over meadows and woodland, and across the Severn Estuary to Wales. It is situated in a tranquil hamlet just a short distance outside the delightful village of Blagdon with it's famous trout fishing lake, numerous walks and lovely country pubs. It is in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, close to the heritage cities of Wells with the beautiful Cathedral & Bishop's Palace and Bath with the world famous Roman Baths. The attractions of Glastonbury Tor and the Wye Valley & Tintern Abbey in South Wales are just a little further, and many of the delights of Devon are also an easy day trip from here. At just 10 minutes from Bristol International Airport, 25 minutes from Bristol, 35 minutes from Bath it is very easy to reach and makes an ideal location to explore all that the West Country has to offer. Photos: the comfortable lounge ~ the cottage dining room with exposed stone wall, beams, window seat & antique French woodburner.

For more pictures and views, click here.

SPECIAL, EXCLUSIVE WEEKENDS

• Gorgeous French styled 'country living' cottage, real fireplace, exposed beams, windowseat & antique french woodburner
• Less than 2 hours from London with great transport links, just 10 minutes from Bristol International Airport, 30 mins Bath, 25 mins Bristol
• Close to Bath, Bristol & Wells for plenty of culture, lots of activities, shopping, gourmet food and nightlife
• Elegant sitting room, stylish and well-equipped kitchen, lovely bedrooms
• Fantastic location with stunning views across the Severn Estuary to Wales
• Free DVD library with all your favourite films for a movie night in!
• Shopping in Bath, Bristol or outlet shopping at the Mulberry shop and Clarks Village
• Minibus transport to Bath from just £7 per person
• Mountain biking, guided walking, wild food and bushcraft activities on the doorstep
• Horse riding, golf and dry slope skiing within a short drive

ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES

The south-facing cottage is airy, light, comfortable and well-equipped. The modern kitchen has oak worktops and a central island, a lovely dining room with beamed ceiling, antique French Godin woodburner, exposed stone wall and large dining table. The sitting room is every large and airy with 12' French doors leading onto a very spacious patio with unsurpassed panoramic views.

The sun goes down on the patio and many spectacular sunsets are seen from here, right across to Wales - this is the perfect spot to relax and have a barbecue and glass of wine at the end of a lovely day out. The sitting room is extremely restful, and you can happily while away a few hours relaxing on a comfortable settee just watching the birds in the garden, or looking out over the lovely views. Blagdon village is very beautiful, and a visit wouldn't be complete without a visit to the local pub near the church, with views over the lake.

~

~

~

~

OUTDOORS

The house is set off a quiet lane, several hundred yards from the historic and beautiful 'Burrington Combe' which inspired the hymn 'Rock of Ages'. It has an enclosed, gently sloping, lawned garden to the rear of the house, with a few lovely trees, ideal as a play area for children.

There are several quiet, secluded and shady spots in the garden under the trees to sit and read a book, enjoy the birdsong and catch a glimpse of the local wildlife including our resident swallows (nesting in the stables for the 7th consecutive year, last year they raised several lots of chicks). You may also be lucky to see the buzzards who live in the woodland at the end of the lane and hear the baby owls in the garden at night. There are lots of rabbits, occasional deer, and a wonderful array of birds in the area.

~

The field next door often has sheep and lambs, and there are wild ponies and goats on Burrington Common, as above, within walking distance.

LOCATION & THINGS TO DO

Ashcroft is on the outskirts of Blagdon village, one of the loveliest villages on the Mendip Hills and situated at the edge of the Chew Valley. There are wonderful walks right from the doorstep, and you could spend a week exploring the immediate vicinity with Blagdon and Chew Valley lakes, an Iron Age hill fort, Burrington Combe, Cheddar & Wookey caves, all virtually on the doorstep. See photos below of Blagdon lake & church, and Chew Valley lake.

~

A short drive will take you to Wells, the smallest City in England with a fabulous cathedral, Glastonbury Tor and Abbey, the heritage City of Bath and the lovely Wye Valley. There's plenty to keep you occupied here but the immediate area is unspoilt, free from crowds and rich with wildlife and outstanding countryside. If you get tired of visiting outstanding attractions such as Wells Cathedral (below) you can always just chill out and watch the sunset from the patio...

~~

The house is in a very peaceful area, just a mile from the centre of the village with a super village shop so it's not far to get fresh organic bread, Yeo Valley organic milk and yogurt and much more! There is a wonderful farm shop near Chew Valley lake with a pretty cafe, and our favourite pub 'The Plume of Feathers' has tables outside overlooking a pretty stream, and great food. There is a golf course within easy distance.

PRICES

Ashcroft is available for weekend, short breaks and weekly holidays. Please contact us with your requirements.

Please Contact Adrian & Renée on (UK) 00 44 (0)1761 463356 or email us.

All photos copyright Adrian Boots, except Blagdon (Dave Parke) and Chew Valley lake (Suzanne Mueller).

LINKS

www.walkthemendips.com - Conservation & Ecology for Leisure or Professional Development on the Mendips

www.rentinfrance.net - Holiday properties to rent in France

www.rentinspain.co.uk - Property to rent and buy in Spain

All web site content copyright Adrian Boots 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008. Photographs of Blagdon, Burringon & Lakes with thanks to Dave Parke.