Nestled in seemingly secluded countryside, this cosy glamping hideaway is, in fact, less than 5 miles from the city centre, yet seems a world away. The rural feel is assured by roaming chickens that cluck around the wheels of your shepherd’s hut, while neighbouring paddocks are home to horses and ponies. What's more, if you really enjoy the company of these four-legged friends, you can hire out your own trusty steed and enjoy the surrounding countryside by saddle, making the most of the excellent bridleways nearby. Those with their own horses are also welcome and grazing or stables are available for you to use.
The shepherd’s hut itself is an authentic, 19th century cabin that has been tastefully converted into a comfortable haven for couples or families of four. At one end a double bed sits beneath a quaint wall cabinet and at the other a large sofa folds into a twin-bunk. Between the two are a simple dark wood table, a mirror and a log burning stove, prepped and ready to go on your arrival and accompanied by a well-stocked log basket. The main light in this warm, off-grid abode comes through the French-window-style doors that open out to the surrounding Somerset countryside.
In the morning expect a hearty breakfast from your welcoming host Becky (with eggs from the chickens), before she merrily suggests one or two places to go, by hoof or by car. Bath, of course, is the most obvious place and certainly has enough to occupy a few days of discovery, but pleasant villages like Castle Combe and Lacock should also be scribbled on the list. The former is perhaps the most quintessential Cotswold hamlet of all, with pale gold houses grouped around a 14th century market cross, while the latter, equally quaint, provided the backdrop to films like Harry Potter and Lark Rise to Candleford.
The picture-perfect settlements do become a little crowded in the peaks of summer, but it’s times like this you’ll be glad you stayed at Applegates. A private shepherd’s hut with an open, relaxing feel, makes it the ideal place for anyone hoping to enjoy the historic city whilst still ensconced in the rolling countryside.
Head into Bath, it's elegance and distinctive Georgian character epitomised by The Circus and the Royal Crescent, along with Pulteney Bridge and Pulteney Street. Learn about such features in the Building of Bath Collection, found in the Holburne Museum (01225 388569). Elsewhere more eclectic and worldly artefacts can be found in the Museum of Bath at Work (01225 318348), the American Museum (01225 460503), the Jane Austen Centre (01225 443000) and the Museum of East Asian Art (01225 464640). The city's highlight is undoubtedly the titular Roman Baths (01225 477785). Adjacent Bath Abbey (01225 422462) is also a centrepiece for the city. Unusually the city is not surrounded by a cluster of sprawling suburbs and instead beautiful countryside is immediately on the doorstep. Lacock, Castle Coombe, Bradford-on-Avon and Corsham are all rural settlements with something to offer, while a string of footpaths and cycle trails make the most of the landscape, particularly around the canals and the river Avon.
Neston Farm Shop and Café (01225 700881) is a mile or so beyond Budgens (the nearest supermarket) and a good place to stock up on local goods. Pub goers should try The Northey Arms (01225 742333), a smart village pub about 1.5 miles away. The George Inn (01225 425079) is a picturesque pub by the canal. Yak Yeti Yak (01225 442 299) and Jamie Italian (01225 432340), both offer something a little different.
