Bath Days Out and Day Trips

Bath is a great base for a West Country holiday. Attractive in itself, the town is also well-placed for exploring the region by car or public transport. This part of England is green and rural, and dotted with historic sites. As well as the beautiful countryside, there are also interesting old towns to visit, local products to investigate - and the coast is only a drive away. Here are some of our favourite days out from Bath:

Towns

> Bristol
> Bradford-on-Avon

Villages

One of the most picturesque villages in the Bath area is Lacock. This picture-postcard settlement is mostly owned by the National Trust, and has been used as the backdrop for various TV/film period dramas, including the BBC's Pride and Prejudice. The charming villages of the Cotswolds are in easy reach of Bath, while Somerset destinations include Norton St Philip, site of a historic battle.

> Norton St Philip

Caves and gorges

The hills around Bath are low and gentle, but some much more dramatic scenery can be found in the Mendip Hills to the south-west of Bath, where tourist attractions include the deep and rocky Cheddar Gorge. The town of Cheddar is also famous for its cheese. More natural phenomena can be marvelled at in Wookey Hole Caves, a dramatic sequence of underground caverns.

Ancient monuments, castles and historic builldings

Stonehenge (English Heritage) is a must for many tourists, and can be combined with a visit to the larger stone circle at Avebury. Dyrham Park, owned by the National Trust, is a stately home used for the location of the film Remains of the Day. More castles, ruins and historic houses are dotted around the area.

> Farleigh Hungerford Castle
> Stonehenge
> Stonehenge coach trips

Gardens

In this region of England there are some superb gardens to visit. As well as Prior Park Gardens in Bath, the National Trust also own the famous landscaped gardens of Stourhead. Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire is a must for tree-lovers, while Rocks East Woodland, close to Bath, is another attractive destination.

> Iford Manor Gardens
> Westonbirt Arboretum
> Rocks East Woodland

By the sea

If you prefer the seaside, one of the nicest resorts that can be reached from Bath is Weymouth, in Dorset, a traditional seaside town which has been coming back into fashion. The traditional local resort for the Bath area is Weston-super-Mare (bus or train from Bath), where donkeys ply their trade on the rather muddy beach.

> Weston-super-Mare

Tourist attractions

The various tourist attractions dotted around the Bath area include farms, Cheddar-making dairies, cider producers and museums. Many of the local attractions make good destinations for families with small children.

> Norwood Farm