Meaning the ‘lower stoneway’, the village has been a important through route since Saxon times. A Norman mote and bailey castle was built in the 11^th Century and many of the houses date back to Medieval times.

 

The Village is full of history and a village trail guides visitors around the interesting historical sights (available from the library or from The Old Cider House).

The village we see today was shaped by one of our most famous residents, Thomas Poole, who was a businessman, philanthropist and sponsor of the arts. It was he who invited Coleridge and Wordsworth to the area and set up free schools, a savings bank and the Women’s Friendly Society which still runs today – some 200 years later.

 

The Village was a main thoroughfare, before being by-passed in the 60s. This is why there are still 3 pubs together with newsagents, post office and general store. There is also a small bistro, butcher and second-hand book shop.

 

 

Practically unknown outside the area, this range of hills runs from Taunton in the south to the Bristol Channel in the north.

 

Designated the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1955, the area is unspoilt and unbuilt upon. The foothills of the Quantocks are farmed and forested with ancient oak and beech woodland in-between. The tops are moorland, covered with a blanket of gorse and heather in the late summer.

 

Red deer and buzzards are regularly seen whilst walking, together with sheep and Quantock ponies that wander free on Quantock Common.

 

The Hills are ideal for walking, cycling and riding. We operate our own walking holiday company from the house – real ale walks – specialising in walks to (and from) country inns with real ale as a theme.

 

 

The Quantock Hills are surrounded by the Mendips to the East, the Brendons and Exmoor to the West and the Blackdown Hills to the South making this the ideal location to go out and explore.

 

Of course, it’s not just scenery we have here, there are plenty of towns and villages to visit.

 

Our nearest town is Bridgwater which contains the normal range of small high street stores, banks and supermarkets etc. Further afield, Taunton and Minehead are half-hour drives away.

 

The attractive towns of Porlock and Watchet are nearby and worth a visit. Then there is Cheddar with its famous gorge, caves and cheese. Glastonbury is also only 20 miles away.

 

Slightly further afield are Bristol and Bath, and Dorset and Devon are no more than an hour away.

 

The area is full of history so there are plenty of stately homes, interesting houses and  unique museums to visit only a short distance away.

 

The village itself has Coleridge’s Cottage where the Poet wrote the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla Khan. This is owned by the National Trust (‘NT’) and open from April to October.

 

Dunster Castle (NT) is on the way to Minehead and worth a look along with the water-mill and the town itself. Close by at Washford is Cleeve Abbey (English Heritage ‘EH’). To the South is Muchelney Abbey (EH) and pleasant riverside walks in the Somerset Levels.

 

For those that like gardens we have Fyne Court Nature Reserve (NT) and Hestercombe Gardens both this side of Taunton.

 

Museums include the County Museum at Taunton and Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury. For those of you into vintage plastic there is the Bakelite Museum at Williton. In Bridgwater there are the Blake Museum and the Brick and Tile Museum, for a mid-week education experience for those that take their building materials seriously!

 

‘Like shopping? Then spend a day at Clarks Village, a retail outlet in Street, or Cribs Causeway (just of the M5 near Bristol) to empty the purse or fill the credit card.

 

The West Somerset Railway runs throughout the year between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead and is the longest heritage railway in the UK. Stops include Watchet and Blue Anchor Bay on the coast and Dunster.

 

The Quantocks are the ideal place for a short walking break.

 

The newly opened Coleridge Way starts from Nether Stowey and runs 36 miles to Porlock. The River Parrett Trail is ideal for those that like their walks flat and there are plenty of other trails in the area.

 

Kilve Beach is 4 miles away and is a good example of a Liassic (mid-Jurassic) fossil beach and a designated Site of Special Scientific  Interest.

 

Of course, for those that want something organised, there are our own walking breaks. See www.realalewalks.co.uk

 

 

Somerset has so much to offer the visitor.

 

Cider is produced all over the County with 3 nearby producers opening their doors to visitors – Torre, Sheppy and Burrow Hill (which also distils a cider brandy).

 

For those looking for good pubs we have 3 in the village – 2 of which do food and real ale. On the other side of the Hills there are 4 pubs supplying good food which are really worth a visit (for details ask Lynne & Ian).

 

If it’s real ale your after – look no further, The Old Cider house has its own microbrewery – the Stowey Brewery – producing a range of real ales for drinking in-house and also available on an occasional basis in the local pubs.

 

Local food is definitely worth searching out. The village has its own creamery selling locally produced cheeses. We have Yeo Valley (organic yoghurt and creamery) just up the road and Tower Farms produces butter and cheese and is available from village stores.

 

Our local butcher sells high quality meat. The Old English sausages are very meaty and the game and fish sold worth tasting.

 

There are a number of farm shops around and our local farmers’ market is held in Bridgwater on the 2^nd Friday of the month. Other markets are held in Taunton (Thurs), Glastonbury (4^th Sat), Minehead (Fris) and Cheddar (3^rd Sat). Call 01458 830 801 for further details.

 

Cream tea your thing? There are plenty of places to visit including a haunted Chantry at Kilve!

 

The Old Cider House provides evening meals using fresh, local, organic and home grown produce whenever available. Cottage guests are welcome to book a table in the House. We have a weekend tasting menu available for £18.50 to celebrate Somerset gastronomy.