Keen explorers have been flocking to one beautiful village steeped in history just one hour's drive south of Bristol.
Nether Stowey is known as being in England's first area of outstanding natural beauty, the Quantock Hills. The village lies to the south-west, and to the north is Bridgwater bay. On a sunny day, you can look right across the Bristol Channel across to the Welsh coast. It's also the nesting place for many peregrines, kestrels and buzzards who all add to the stunning bucolic surroundings.
Stowey Castle helped to put the village on the map built in the late eleventh century by Alfred d'Epaignes. It stood for around 400 years until it was destroyed due to what historians believe to be a penalty for the local lord's involvement in the Second Cornish Uprising of 1497, reports Somerset Live.
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The parish covers approximately 4km of land with a predicted population of fewer than 1,500 people. It's still a great base for ramblers keen to explore the area with local amenities including three pubs, bed and breakfasts, a post office and a small restaurant.
Nether Stowey was once home to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, an English poet who became one of the founding fathers of the Romantic Movement alongside William Wordsworth. The two poets are said to have walked miles together along the hills and towards Lynmouth in a 50-mile route now known as Coleridge Way bestowing some of Somerset's best countryside.
His influence remains strong to this day with flickers of legacy imbued throughout the village and some features of the modern landscape remain virtually unchanged. Coleridge Cottage, the poet's home between 1797 and 1800, is situated just a short distance from the village centre and sits opposite The Ancient Mariner pub, aptly named after the poet's most notable work. The historic home is now a National Trust property preserved as a writer's home museum.
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For keen ramblers, Nether Stowey is part of the Walkers are Welcome initiative. There are plenty of routes for all ages and abilities that stem from the village. Local maps are available in the Post Office, the pubs, the notice boards and even stuck up around the village.
The village has a rich history, in which the older part of which lies in a conservation area with the oldest buildings are believed to be of early medieval origin. It's an ideal escape from the bustle of Bristol life for those not looking to stray too far from home.
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