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A couple of centuries ago TIMSBURY BOTTOM hummed with industrial activity - half a dozen collieries and their associated tramways fed black gold down to the terminal basin of the SOMERSET COAL CANAL, then by narrowboat to the KENNET & AVON CANAL and finally into the smoke of the local metropolis. The era of King Coal is now over and the area is very green - in fact it is quite buccolic, making it the perfect place to stay when visiting nearby Bristol and Bath. Timsbury Bottom has scrubbed up well, with the only black faces belonging to Tom's sheep. These three farm buildings have had stunning facelifts too and now look more like teenagers with their bright shiny kitchens and bathrooms, cascades of honey coloured green oak timbers and sparkling jewel-like lights shedding their rosy glow onto the exposed local Lias stone walls. Decoration is "a la mode" and if you've remembered your lute there are minstrel galleries in both Whippletree Cottage and the Engine House, with King size beds on each, to reward your lute playing!

For those trying to reduce their carbon footprint, the good news is that the underfloor heating is provided by a ground source heat pump and the wood burning stove is an improvement on burning all that coal brought up from Withy Mills and Radford pits. You can lighten your tread further by walking to the local pub across the fields on one of the old miners paths.

The farm is criss-crossed with footpaths leading in every direction, so you can explore the canal and railway using the old towpath.The former canal basin (still in water) and grassed over batches (spoil tips) are full of wildlife of every description. This is very much a working farm with all the hazards that this entails, though milking and the associated muck clearing etc.takes place on the main farm elsewhere - visits on request. Here at Withy Mills the only sounds are from the livestock - young cattle, dry cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, Mimi the cat, Cash the dog and perhaps the odd piglet or fostered lamb.

So if you're looking for somewhere rural - but not too rural - and want to be near the bright lights of Bristol and Bath, you won't do better than this.

Private parking without charge	Yes	Credit cards accepted	No	Mini-breaks (3 days min)	Yes
Daily cleaning (may be a charge)	No	Open Christmas and New Year	Yes	Linen provided	Yes
Pets accepted by arrangement	No	Central heating	Yes	Within 1/2 mile of public transport	No

Click here to E-Mail Withy Mills Farm

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