The 10 best day trips from Bath
All our day trip recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert. Find out more below or for more Bath inspiration, see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, bars and nightlife, pubs, things to do and places for afternoon tea.
Find a day trip by type:
Best for history
Stonehenge
Britain's most iconic prehistoric monument is infinitely more rewarding if you understand where the stones came from, the alignment with the solstices and how the monument sits in a landscape littered with prehistoric sites. Information at the stones is very limited, so download the audio guide. To avoid the crowds go early or late in the day. Better still, book a 'Stone Circle Experience' visit outside regular opening hours, very early in the morning or in the evening: you go inside the stone circle in a small group with a guide.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
16 hours ago
- BBC News
Marshals return to patrol Dartmoor over summer
Marshals are heading out on to Dartmoor to help tackle anti-social behaviour and speak to visitors in the national said the marshals had become an "invaluable resource" by helping rangers during the busiest months of the year over the is the sixth consecutive year the marshals have been deployed on the moor and they will be on patrol until park said the marshals had spent more than 910 hours patrolling the moor last year and had dealt with "fly camping", when campers leave equipment or food behind, open fires, dogs off leads and they had stopped a rave on at least one occasion. Simon Lee, Dartmoor National Park's head ranger, said: "Like Rangers, marshals bring valuable experience and skills in dealing with sensitive situations but are also there to help and advise, so people have safe and memorable visits."The marshals were funded through a partnership involving Devon and Cornwall's Police and Crime Commissioner, the National Trust, Forestry England, Duchy of Cornwall, South West Lakes Trust, Dartmoor Common Owners Association and private landowners.
Telegraph
18 hours ago
- Telegraph
What American tourists need to know about surviving the British countryside
The last time I escorted American visitors into the British countryside, there were tears. My friends, hobbyist hikers undaunted by the Rockies, were unprepared for the British delight that is a yomp through wind and rain, puddles and mud. After five years spent learning the ways of this country, I clawed the weekend back from the brink with a roast dinner at a cosy pub. But the experience proved once again that – though just across the pond – there is still a world of difference between rural America and the British countryside. The issue has been thrown into particularly sharp focus by the current love affair Americans are enjoying with the English wilds. This summer, Vice President JD Vance will visit the Cotswolds with his family, following in the footsteps of Hollywood celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, who moved to the area with wife Portia de Rossi in November. But pitfalls abound for Americans unfamiliar with the norms of bucolic Britain, from the sleepy shops to the unspoken rules of the pubs. Here are the dos and don'ts you need to know if you're going to survive unscathed. Do: Take your time In classic American style, you might be tempted to pack your week with a couple days in the charming villages of the Cotswolds, then a trip to Cornwall's rugged coast and ending in the scenic Scottish Highlands. But just pick one place and stay a while. The beauty of the British countryside is in enjoying its slower pace. Don't: Expect all-hours service Put early morning errands out of your mind. The village shop might not be open 9 to 5, and expect businesses to close in the early afternoon – or not open at all – on Sundays. Do: Steel yourself for narrow country roads Americans will be prepared to brave driving on the left, but may not have bargained for the tiny hedgerow-lined lanes which can cause bafflement for visitors. These aren't one-way streets; two-way traffic works on the basis of waiting your turn. Strategically placed passing points widen single track roads. The vehicle nearest to a passing place should yield: if the passing place is on your left, you should pull over; if it is on your right, wait for the other car to tuck in. Even if you don't see any oncoming traffic, it's crucial to note the location of the passing places – you may need to reverse into one if an unexpected vehicle (likely a tractor) comes around the corner. So go slow. Don't: Forget to wave a polite thank you It's vital countryside etiquette to thank the other driver for gracefully negotiating the situation with you – regardless of whether you were the passed or passing. Do: Prepare to walk Yes, you'll need to navigate the roads but, by American standards, you won't be spending much time in your car. In tiny towns and villages parking is at a premium, so find a spot and spend your day on foot. In the UK, public footpaths cut through private property (watch for colour-coded trail markers to guide your way). Because trails criss-cross farms and fields, you can often find yourself sharing space with livestock, from shy sheep to nosy horses. Give cows a cautious wide berth, and keep any canine companions on a lead (leash). British walkers love a ramble. Unlike hiking in the US, there may or may not be a panoramic view at the endpoint – here, outdoors pursuits prioritise the journey not the destination. The destination will reliably be a pub, but the journey to said pub might meander a country lane, stomp through a random field or summit a small mountain. You'll earn your pint. Don't: Ignore your fellow walkers Say hello. You'll be seen as rude if you don't at least offer up a 'good morning' when you pass others on a countryside path. Do: Pack appropriate footwear There will be mud. Even on a clear and sunny day, there will likely be mud. Waterproofed hiking shoes or full-on wellies are a prerequisite. Don't: Put much faith in the weather report Yes, it will probably rain during your holiday. But a single day, or even hour, might see a foggy cold-front followed by a sunny hot spell. Always have an extra layer and an umbrella handy. Do: Know your way around a pub There's a knack to being a good pub patron, and when in doubt, follow the locals' lead. If the only staff you can see are behind the bar, you can safely assume that's where you'll be ordering your drinks and your meal – don't waste time waiting for table service. (Though at more upscale pubs, you'll often find a dining section where normal restaurant rules apply.) It's first come, first served at the bar, but if you fail to observe who else might be waiting to order, you might cut ahead in line without even realising. It's a major faux pas; the British take queues seriously. Don't: Shout My dear fellow Americans, you are so loud. Please use your gentlest indoor voices, even at the pub. Do: Devour a roast dinner A Sunday roast is an unmissable ingredient of a British countryside weekend – think Thanksgiving dinner, every week. This meal is served at lunchtime – by Sunday evening you might be met with empty pubs and closed kitchens. Don't: Treat every roast as equal Skipping the restaurant research runs the risk of soggy plates of microwaved meat drowned in salty gravy (our guides to the Cotswolds, Cornwall and the Lake District can help avoid this fate). And be sure to book ahead: tables at the best loved spots get snapped up quickly. My personal criteria include roasted (never steamed) carrots, locally sourced meat, crispy potatoes and a gigantic Yorkshire pudding – not a dessert, but a delightfully fluffy vessel for gravy. Do: Have tea A visit to an old-fashioned tea room is a must, the more doilies and bunting the better. Whenever possible, order a cream tea – the classic combination of tea served with a scone, jam and clotted cream. This is eaten open-sandwich style, scone sliced in half and loaded first with cream and then with jam (unless you are in Cornwall, whose residents prefer the jam topped with cream). Don't: Take your tea to go Cardboard cups ruin the experience. Sit down and enjoy your scone.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
UK glamping hotspot where you can enjoy breathtaking views from a vintage cheese vat turned hot tub
SOAK up valley views from a vintage cheese vat turned hot tub, says Deputy Editor Ellie O'Mahoney. The Pad Tucked away in a secluded five-acre field just six minutes' drive from the pretty market town of Castle Cary, you'll find Hadspen Glamping and three off-grid safari lodges. 7 7 Each comes with a wood-fired stove, well-equipped kitchen and Faith In Nature toiletries in the rain shower. Even better, on the decking of Horscombe Lodge, there's a copper wood-fired hot tub – repurposed from an antique cheese vat – to lie back and watch the cows and sheep grazing across the peaceful valley from. The beds are super-comfortable and there's a cupboard packed with games. Order a Full English Breakfast Hamper, £30, stuffed with local goodies, including eggs, sausages, bacon, black pudding, mushrooms, beans and tomatoes, for the best wake-up treat. Explore Pop into Castle Cary to see historic buildings, including an 18th-century 'Roundhouse' and the thatched George Hotel. Time your visit for a Tuesday to catch the weekly food market on the cobbles in front of the 19th-century Market House. 7 Meanwhile, Bath 's famous Roman Baths are 50 minutes away by car – marvel at the ruins and get spellbound by the ancient curses written by wronged locals to the spa's Roman goddess. Adult entry costs from £28, kids over six, from £21 ( Afterwards, head round the corner to Sally Lunn 's Historic Eating House & Museum to sample the eponymous bun, £4.20 – named after the baker who lived in the city 350 years ago. Don't forget to pop downstairs to see the perfectly preserved 15th-century kitchen cellar, too ( Longleat Safari Park is fun for the whole family and about half an hour away – brave the monkeys leaping on to your car and let the koalas steal your heart. Inside luxury dog-friendly glamping pod with wild Scottish spa and its own fairy pools 7 Kids will also shriek with delight at the brilliant adventure playground. Adult entry costs from £44.95, kids over three from £33.70 ( If it's on your way home, be sure to swing by Stonehenge to learn what life would have been like in Neolithic times. Adult entry costs from £30.90, kids over five from £20 ( Refuel In Bath, head to The Bird for incredible views across Bath Abbey – the roast rump of Somerset beef, £22, is an absolute treat, while the Cointreau and orange tiramisu, £16 to share, is utterly moreish ( At the 600-year-old Swan Hotel in Wells, expect the most tender sirloin steak, £30, and an affogato that's a work of art, £10 ( Closer to your pitch, call into The Creamery, a cafe and working creamery at Castle Cary station. Its Estate Buffalo Smash Burger with house slaw, £15, is delicious, as is the honey and milk gelato, £6 ( Book It Stays for four at Hadspen Glamping cost from £200 per night ( Pack It 7
