Local Attractions

 

Staying at Winford Manor hotel means you will have easy access to all the superb attractions that Bristol, Bath and the surrounding South Gloucestershire and North Somerset countryside have to offer visitors. Bursting with things to see and do the local area has something for everyone, from culture vultures and gastronomes, to adventurers, shoppers and families.

 

Highlights include viewing the symbolic Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the beautiful Avon Gorge; visiting the historic ss Great Britain, the world's first great ocean liner built in 1843; experiencing Bath's hot springs and World Heritage Site Roman baths, along with the city's famous Georgian stone crescents; and exploring the wild and rugged Chedder Gorge caves with their world famous stalactite and stalagmite formations.

 

For more information on things to see and do, along with details on local events, visit the official tourist board websites for Bristol and Bath.

 

On our links page, you will find direct links to many local and green attractions.  You can also call reception who will be more than happy to give any furhter information you require.

 

WINFORD MANOR GREEN ATTRACTIONS

Walking

Winford Manor is ideally located for exploring the historic cities of Bristol and Bath, Cheddar Gorge and caves, the home of the famous cheddar cheese and indeed our beautiful west country. Sat just on the edge of the Mendips, Winford Manor is the perfect anchor site for avid walkers or gentle strollers to explore the rolling countryside, sheltered combes, ponds, woods and farmland.

 

Part of the South West peninsular of England, Somerset is a predominantly rural county and a major holiday destination. It's popularity is hardly surprising considering the rich mixture of quiet pastoral landscapes, wild moors, stunning limestone gorges and the spectacular northern coastline. Five ranges of hills, the Mendips, the Quantocks, the Poldens, the Blackdowns, and the Brendons, provide wonderful walking and spectacular views. South Somerset is a rural idyll with gentle landscapes, sleepy villages and colourful beauty in the fields, orchards and woods. The important and hauntingly beautiful Somerset Levels provides a complete contrast to the deep and dramatic Cheddar Gorge with its soaring limestone cliffs, and yet these different landscapes are but a few miles apart.

 

Local landscape ecologist, Adrian Boots says “The Mendip Hills is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From 'top of the world', huge panoramic views across the Bristol Channel and Somerset levels, to stunning vistas through deep, forested combes. From the Chew Valley Lakes and natural nature reserves to the heritage and culture of the Cathedral City of Wells and the mysterious Glastonbury Tor and Abbey. Home to numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), and bordering some of Britain’s most important wetlands, The Mendip Hills has something for everyone, and awaits your discovery…”

 

Visit Adrian’s website for more information about his walking days from short taster sessions, courses, wild food walks, foraging & cook-ups, and bushcraft expeditions at www.walkthemendips.com.

 

Explore the deep and mysterious Goblin Combe, 130 acres of spectacular landscape with a dramatic Combe gouged from a limestone plateau surrounded by semi-natural ancient woodland, flower rich calcareous grassland and limestone health. These habitats are support rare wildlife and are protected as a Site of Special Interest. www.goblincombe.org.uk

 

Very locally, try the Winford Walk offering views across the Mendips and over the pretty farmland around Winford in the Chew Valley area of North Somerset.  Local walking maps and further details can be found at  www.winfordpc.co.uk/Winford_Footpaths/

 

Stroll on a bit further to find Chew Valley lake:  Chew Valley Lake is Bristol Water’s biggest lake with a perimeter of some ten miles and a total capacity of a 20,000 million litres. Construction of the lake started in November 1950, it took just over five years to complete. Sixteen farm houses, eleven other houses and 2,000 acres (480 hectares) of land were bought up and drowned by the rising waters and three and a half miles of road were diverted or widened. Chew Valley Lake provides a home for a great variety of wildlife. Its shallow, lime rich water is teeming with aquatic insects and supports a lush growth of water plants. These provide food and cover for huge numbers of birds for which the lake is nationally famous. Over 260 different species have been recorded, ranging from tiny reed warblers to the majestic Bewick's swan. The level of the lake rises in winter and falls over the summer and autumn exposing wide muddy margins. Different birds are attracted here over the changing seasons.

 

 

Cycling

For cyclists, The Avon cycleway is an 85 mile circular route taking in many picturesque villages, numerous historic landmarks and a variety of splendid landscapes. Downloadable maps are available from: Avon Cycleway, Cyclewest. Cycle west have detailed maps of leisure rides all over the west country including:

 

Bristol to Bath Railway Path
Length: 13 miles
Type: Disused railway line (traffic-free)
Access: Numerous along route (see map)
Refreshments: Pubs along the way, cafés at Staple Hill and Bitton
Links: Avon Cycleway, River Avon Trail,
The Railway Path begins in central Bristol and travels through Mangotsfield, Warmley and Bitton before passing through Saltford to the outskirts of Bath.
You can join and leave the path at a number of places and tailor the distance to suit you

 

Colliers Way
Route: Dundas Aqueduct, Radstock and Frome
Length: 17 miles
Type: Disused railway (traffic-free) and minor roads
Access: Numerous places to join (see map)
Refreshments: Visitor centre with refreshments at Dundas Aqueduct and pubs along route
Links: NCN route 26
There are a number of places to join if depending on how far you would like to cycle.

 

Kennet and Avon Canal Path
Route: Bath to Reading
Length: 84 miles ( Bath to Devizes 22 miles)
Type: Canal towpath and quiet rural roads
Links: Bristol to Bath railway path and Severn & Thames Cycle Route between Gloucester and Reading.
The historic canal links the Thames and the Bristol Channel, weaving through spectacular scenery between Reading and Bath. Cycling is permitted along the length of the canal, except for a short section near Froudes Bridge and Woolhampton

 

Norton Radstock Greenway
Route: Radstock to Midsomer Norton
Length: 2 miles
Type: Disused railway (traffic-free)
Access: There are a number of places to join (see map)
Refreshments: Radco supermarket and Tea and Trade cafe
Links: Colliers Way

 

 

Ride to the North Somerset Coast
Route: Bristol to Portishead
Length: 11.5 miles (5.5 miles to Ham Green)
Type: A mix of traffic-free routes, purpose-built cycleways and quiet roads; some hills
Access: Various access points between Pill and Portishead
Refreshments: Available in both Portishead and Bristol at each end of the path
Links: Avon Cycleway (Regional Route 10)

 

River Avon Trail
Route: Pill to Hanham
Length: 12 miles (or 7 or 5 miles)
Type: Canal towpath and quiet rural roads
Access: There are numerous places to get onto the Trail including Pill Harbour, Princes Wharf, Castle Park, Conham and Hanham Weir.
Refreshments: Pubs at Hanham Weir
Links: Bristol and Bath Railway path
There is a choice of a 7 mile trip between Bristol and Pill Harbour or a 5 miles trip from Bristol to Hanham Weir.

 

Strawberry Line
Route: Yatton to Cheddar
Length: 8 miles
Type: Disused railway line (traffic-free) was originally built in 1869. The line closed in 1960 when it became part of the Cheddar Valley Railway Nature Reserve.
Access: Various access points along route
Refreshments: Pubs, cafes and Thatcher’s Cider Shop
Links: Avon Cycleway (Regional Route 10)

 

For a more gentle ride, we encourage you to use our bikes, free of charge to explore the local villages and parklands. For the more serious cyclists, we welcome you to use our secure storage facilities for your own bikes.

HOW CAN OUR GUESTS HELP?

We’re all encouraged to do our bit for the planet. Whether you’re on a business or a leisure trip it makes perfect sense to stay at a green hotel and join in with us, doing our bit to protect the environment:

 Guests are asked to join in our eco friendly towel and sheet re-use programme, where we wait for the guest to request a change rather than us automatically changing towels and sheets every day.
 Conference delegates are asked to use a whiteboard instead of a flip chart during conferences to save paper and to hand over any paper waste at the end of the conference for recycling.
 Guests are reminded that although we harvest rainwater to flush the loos, water is still a precious commodity and unnecessary loo flushing wastes precious harvested water.
 Guests can remember to turn the tap off whilst brushing their teeth and not over fill the kettle.
 Guests are asked to turn down the underfloor heating by the thermostat, rather than opening the windows to let the heat escape.
 Guests are asked to leave any recyclable refuse on the desk in their room, where the housekeeping staff will take to the appropriate recycling bins.

 

Feel Good in the South West - Seven things you can do to help save the planet

In the South West we are working to become one of the world’s most eco-friendly destinations, but we need your help. We can all reduce our impact on the environment by making choices. As a visitor you have a very important role to play in helping us to conserve our natural assets and become a more sustainable destination.

Here are some ideas on how you can help:

 

Conserve Energy

Reduce energy by switching off lights and closing windows if heating is on. The Energy Saving Trust provides information on what you can do at home.
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Give the Car a Rest

Leave the car behind, if only for a day. Walk, cycle or use public transport. We will happily provide you with advice.
http://www.travelinesw.com; http://www.traveline.org.uk http://www.southwestcoastpath.com

 

Shop Local

Use local products, they give you a flavour of the area and help support local communities. We are
fortunate to have some fantastic producers of food, drink and arts and crafts. Ask us about local
markets or local and regional produce.

 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Try to avoid overly packaged goods and say no to that extra carrier bag. You can also support us in our efforts to recycle – please ask staff for more details.
http://www.recyclenow.com

 

Be Water Wise

The UK has rising costs for water treatment and flood defence so please use water wisely. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth and adhere to towel policies or other water saving initiatives
http://www.wessexwater.co.uk/waterefficiency

 

Respect Nature

Help us to look after the landscape and wildlife by not littering, guarding against fire and using footpaths and cycle-ways responsibly. Ensure you follow the Countryside Code
http://www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk

 

Support Green Businesses

There are thousands of businesses in the British Isles working to reduce their carbon footprint throughthe Green Tourism Business Scheme. Businesses are awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold for their efforts to be more sustainable.
http://www.green-business.co.uk

 

 

Transport

Here at Winford Manor, it is not easy to avoid arriving by car. However, for those guests who have arrived by public transport and can present a valid bus or train ticket, we will be delighted to take a 10% discount off your room rate.

 

We operate our own transfer service to the airport for a small fee. We try only to go on the ½ hour, in order to save making several unnecessary journeys with just one guest on board.