Places to Go, People to See

Nunney is splendidly placed for a holiday or weekend touring the West Country. Nearby Frome offers enticing independent shops and more listed buildings than any other town in Somerset; the Frome Festival attracts international artists and performers

Bath is half an hour by road, as is Stonehenge, and we’re surrounded by National Trust properties such as Stourhead and Tyntsfield. We are also close to several major public schools – great for weekend visits – and the delights of Babington House and the Cowshed are but a few miles away

If you don’t already know about The Newt in Somerset, this is a must-see garden and estate between Bruton and Castle Cary, about eleven miles away. This extraordinary project is being developed by the owners of Babylonstoren in South Africa. On the way, visit the fascinating gallery and gardens at Hauser & Wirth in Bruton

We’re also very close to Longleat, the ultimate combination of Safari Park, historic house and adventure centre

Nunney

We are situated in the quiet, pretty village of Nunney – just three miles from the centre of Frome. Set in the charming Somerset countryside, Nunney boasts not only an excellent village shop and pub but also its own ruined mediaeval castle, complete with moat. The little cafe on the way to the castle has friendly new owners

The remains of a Roman settlement were excavated nearby in 1869. Nunney village was founded by Nunna the Saxon in around 600 CE. The Domesday Book, written in 1086, mentions 34 households and one and a half mills in Nunney. We think the site of Penny’s Mill was a mill then and may go right back to Saxon times

Nunney Castle is open to visit any time, and is an evocative ruin, having been damaged and slighted during the Civil War. Built in 1373 by Sir John de la Mare, it’s modelled on the castles he saw in France during the Crusades

In later times, the Fussell family created ironworks ion Nunney, Railford and Mells using the water power from the little brooks which criss-cross the area

There are pleasant walks along Nunney Brook (take your wellies!) and lively events throughout the year, such as Nunney Fayre in July/August, and the Duck Race at Easter. We have plenty of local books, maps and guides to help you enjoy your stay

Nearby Attractions

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We are close to the Georgian city of Bath and less than two hours by train from London. The nearest railway station is in Frome, around 3 miles away, and Bristol International Airport is a 45-minute drive

Once here you’re ideally placed for sallies into Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset. Visit Bath for its Roman history, its Georgian past or its ultra-modern Spa . Tour Longleat , enjoy walking the Mendips or the gardens at Stourhead . It’s an easy drive out to Glastonbury and the Somerset Levels. We’re just a few miles from fabulous restaurants – Babington House, The Roth Bar and Grill and Osip in Bruton, plenty of variety in Frome and our special favourite, Goodfellows at 7b St Thomas Street in Wells. Plenty of good gastro-pubs in the area too, many listed in the restaurant guide we send our guests before arrival

Frome itself boasts more listed buildings than anywhere else in Somerset – check out the helpful Discover Frome website – and it’s close enough for the hardy to walk there. On the first Sunday of every month (except January & February) the Frome Independent street market takes over the whole centre of the town and attracts visitors from near and far. Check out the Frome Festival too

In particular, there are lovely gardens to enjoy within easy reach.As well as Stourhead, highlights include Kilver Court, The Newt in Somerset, Iford Manor and the Piet Oudolf garden at Hauser & Wirth. All these are within a 25 minute drive

Museums. We have plenty and not just in Bath, where you will find the Holburne Museum and the fascinating Herschel Museum. The Roman Baths are world class, Once the site of one of the great religious spas of the ancient world; the people of Roman Britain came to the site to worship the goddess Sulis Minerva and bathe in the waters of the natural thermal springs, which still flow with hot water today. Be warned that they can be very crowded during the school holidays and summer months. Sometimes they have evening sessions with food/music - check online and book!

The American Museum at Claverton, just south of Bath, is well worth a visit for the museum itself, its building, its history and its gardens. The Haynes Motor Museum at Sparkford is a must for petrolheads of all ages. Our gransdon loves the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. But of course the open-aid daddy of them all is Stonehenge, with its magnificent new Visitor Centre

The Dorset coast is a short trip to the south – drive to Lyme Regis, West Bay, Bridport or Studland, or take the little train from Frome to Weymouth. And the schools at Downside, King’s Bruton, Sherborne and Millfield are perhaps thirty minutes’ drive, with Bryanston less than an hour (think booking our Family Suite)

Georgian Bath

Bath is quite simply spectacular. A World Heritage Site, its history goes back before the arrival of the Romans, who built a magnificent temple and bathing complex that still flows with natural hot water. In the 18th and early 19th centuries the wealthy aristocracy of England made it their playground. Now it’s our favoured centre for culture, theatre, museums and – of course – retail therapy

Bath is a city for walking – the main shopping streets are largely closed to traffic, and the city sits compactly in a bend of the River Avon. Excellent rail links including to local spots like Bristol and Bradford-on-Avon. You can also take the train to Bath from Frome, the route is attractive and you arrive in the centre with no parking hassles

A couple of hints for visitors – on-street parking in Bath can be a pain so please ask us about the best car parks, or use the Park and Ride. And if you have time for only one museum, we suggest the Holburne Museum at the far end of Great Pulteney Street. For links to the websites of this and some of the other Bath museums, check the Nearby Attractions section above

If you’ve never visited Bath, now is your chance to see what you’ve been missing! And if you have, you will need no prompting to return – to Bath, and of course to Penny’s Mill