James

My wife and I will be in Bradford-on-Avon, for three days, from the 27 to the 29 September.<BR><BR>Leaving early(ish)on the 27th; we will be driving from Broadway, some 120kms, to Bradford-on-Avon, where we will leave the car at the B&B, catch a train to Bath and spend the rest of the day there. Apart from the usual tourist sights, can anyone give us some suggestions on what to see or do while in Bath?<BR><BR>On the morning of the 28 September we are looking at taking a drive to the Cheddar Gorge and walking the cliff tops. Has anyone done this and if so, is it worth the effort?<BR>We then plan to spend the afternoon in Wells, visiting the cathedral as well as Vicar's Close, Bishop's Palace and the Archdeaconry.<BR>Is there a car park near the cathedral?<BR>What else does the town of Wells have to offer?<BR> <BR>On the net I have seen some great aerial shots of Vicar's Close, Bishop's Palace and the Archdeaconry. Is there somewhere where the public can take similar photographs?<BR><BR>On the 29th we will begin by checking out the towns of Castle Combe, Biddestone and Laycock. From there we will visit Bowood House and gardens. Next we will see the Oldbury White Horse, West Kennett Barrow and the Avebury Stone Circle. We will then head south-west to take in the picturesque villages of Wherwell and Chilbolton. If time permits we will have a look at Longleat, on the way back to Bradford-on-Avon.<BR><BR>Are we attempting too much? Can anyone suggest changes, or additions, to the above-mentioned itinerary?<BR><BR>I thank you, and all assistance will be greatly appreciated.<BR><BR>

fiona

the Cheddar Gorge is spectacular. The caves were huge and the steep climb to the cliff top is very strenuous but worthwhile!<BR>"Apart from the usual tourist sights," - you don't need further suggestions! You will find it very difficult seeing everything in a day! If you can, give yourself a little more time - even half a day in Bath. It's a beautiful place- the one thing that I did not like was the amount of beggars. That was several years ago so things may have changed.

Suzy

The days you hae planned are very very full; if you haven't drive in the UK before, you'll be surprised at how little ground you can cover in a day. Apart for the big highways (the "M" roads), you'll find yourself traveling an average of 30 to 40 milesper hour. <BR><BR>I am especially concerned about the plans for the 29th, when you seem to think you can "check out" 5 towns, 3 historic sites (did you know that there are 2 museums at Avebury?), a historic house/garden, and Longleat, where many people would spend at least half a day.<BR><BR>One thing to do in Bath that's lots of fun is the Bizarre Bath walk. It's a combination of history, humor, and magic, costs about &pound;4, no reservation needed. But it ends at about 9 PM, so check the train schedule. We enjoyed shopping on Wolcot Street, which has unusual shops, a glassblower, and a reclamation business that sells everything from window locks to entire Elizabethan rooms.

Suzy

I meant to mention -- we spent 2 nights in Bath last summer and saw no beggars at all.

Maggie

May I suggest that you take the Bath Open Top Bus Tour. It takes you all around the city to the most interesting places and you can hop on and hop off as you wish.<BR>An excellent way to see the city.<BR>Enjoy your very busy schedule!<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie.

Steve James

Hello James,<BR><BR>There are lots of places you could add to your itinerary, - such as Stourhead, Stonehenge, Corsham Court, Nunney Castle, ... to name a few. You really need a week! <BR><BR>To fit Longleat in I would add it to you Wells/Cheddar day. Wells is very small, and you can really see it all in a couple of hours. Be aware that the Bishop's Palace is only open certain days, I believe. You could also fit Nunney into this itinerary as you will pass close by.<BR><BR>You could also visit Castle Combe and Biddestone en route from Broadway if you wanted.<BR><BR>Hope this helps ...<BR><BR>Steve<BR>