My wife and I will be spending two weeks in July, 2007 in Bath, England. We are looking at day trips from Bath and believe that Stonehenge, Cardiff, Bristol, Glouster would be a good start. Are we on the right track ? Are there some places within a day's drive that anyone would recommend ?
Thanks.

If you don't want to drive, I would recommend MadMax tours. The do a tour of Stonehenge, Avebury as well as other sites as well. My family and I enjoyed the tour we took a few years ago.

Salisbury Cathedral is a must see. Old Sarum and Avebury are interesting.

I'll recommend Wells and Glastonbury as one trip, Cirencester for another and Longleat for a third.

Statford upon Avon is another possibility.

You could also go to South/east Wales.

Hay on Wye is fabulous if you are book lovers.

Hi BobNSue - Lots of other options within drving distance of Bath.

Cotswolds - Bradford-on-Avon - Lacock - Castle Combe - Cheddar Gorge - Oxford - Blenheim Palace - Wilton House - Winchester - Dorset/Devon coast - Sherborne ...

You're spoilt for choice really? What are your interests?

Steve

"Salisbury Cathedral is a must see"

While beautiful, Salisbury Cathedral is rather average by cathedral standards.

It lies on the tourist trail between London and Bath, hence its celebrity with coach groups.

Now Wells has a Cathedral!

As does Winchester, the ancient capital of England, before William the Bastard moved it to that uppity trading post known as London.

Salisbury the town is a nice little place. And Stourhead Garden is one of the definitive English style gardens.

From Bath we crossed into Wales and drove up the Wye River valley, stopping at Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle. The valley is thickly wooded and very scenic. Tintern, set almost in wilderness, is very affecting.

To Waring:
I thought I was the only person under-whelmed by Salisbury Cathedral!
Canterbury somewhat the same. The one that impressed me most was Gloucester Cathedral. Maybe just because it was my first? Planning to stay a couple nights in Wells next trip, so will look forward to that experience.

We did the "Tower Tour" at Salisbury Cathedral, which was 2 hours and took us up the tower to the base of the spire itself. It is fascinating to see the old scaffolding and the ancient iron reinforcing. The guide was quite good and the views from up top were wonderful. All 3 of us enjoyed the tour.

If you feel like a day off the driving Cardiff to Bath is an easy day trip on the train, about 2 hour trip, both train stations are in the center.

http://www.visitwales.co.uk/

This will give you info on Gloucester.http://www.cotswolds.info/places/gloucester.shtml
Hay on Wye is a nice pretty place and famous for it's book shops and book festival which they have I think in May.
Hhttp://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/
Usk in Monmouth is very nice.
http://www.monmouth.org.uk/
A nice drive out would be from Bath to Llandrindod Wells just over 2 hours drive, then come back via Builth wells about 10 15 mins drive away. Then drive to Brecon about 40 mins drive. then Breacon to usk about 1 hr drive. Then depending on time you could drive over to Hay on Wye about an 1 hour drive or leave that and do Heerford another day.
http://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/

Yes tons. Stratford on avon for shakespears house & warwick castle on same day. Cotswolds towns like bibury & cirencester. Cirencester has a roman museum called Coreneium which is good as well as lots of great pubs. Train to Bradford on avon which is a tiny little town & cute.

I also highly recommend a short trip to Wells. The cathedral is fantastic.

You may also want to consider a trip to Tewksbury.

dave

A nice journey would be to Ilfracombe with a stop in Minehead. But if you want to consider a LONG daytrip (may be possible if you started early) would be a trip to Porthcurno to see the Minack Theatre... most amazing place I saw in the UK. Cornwall coast is great also with my favorite being Port Issac

Hi Bob,

Caerphilly Castle is about 0:15 hr outside Cardiff.

Cirencester is about an hour by car.

oh wells Cathedral sounds good. The town i've heard is really nice.

bookmarking

If you are staying for two weeks then you could probably well afford a day or two in south wales. The beaches are amongst the best in Britain, and a visit to Cardiff will be a welcome city excursion, as it is more vibrant and exciting a place than Bath.

Bath is beautiful so enjoy!

another vote for Wells Cathedral - one of my favorites!! and Glastonbury is definitely doable in that same day - visit the Tor, abbey ruins and Arthur's grave. (OK, I know it's not really, but we can still pretend.....)

Also, Cheddar Gorge makes for nice hiking/viewing.....