Quantocks walk & Coleridge Cottage

Programme for the day

11.45am Explore Coleridge Cottage

Meet at Coleridge Cottage, Lime Street, Nether Stowey, TA5 1NQ.  This NT property will be opening especially for us.  Coleridge lived here in 1796 and wrote The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, Christobel, Frost at Midnight etc.

Cost: NT members free, adults £3.90, juniors £1.90

12.30pm Lunch

Eat at the Ancient Mariner pub, opposite the cottage.   All the food is home-made, and there is a selection of reasonably priced hot dishes, vegetarian alternatives, snacks and baguettes.  Or bring a picnic.

1.30pm Walk

Meet outside the pub for an expedition to explore part of the little-known but beautiful Quantock hills, beloved by Wordsworth and his sister, Coleridge, Southey and others.  The Walk will be led by local history expert, Chris Sidaway.  He will talk about local copper mining, charcoal burning, the history of the castle, the Romantic poets and much, much more during the walk which will be about 6 miles in duration and take 2–3 hours.  The first part of the walk involves a stiff uphill climb.  Wear strong walking shoes and suitable clothing, and bring water to drink.

Cost: Adults £3 adults, juniors £1.50

And there’s more…

Nether Stowey has a wonderful second hand book shop in St Mary Street, Books for Life, which is an Aladdin’s cave full of piles of books just waiting for a home. (There is a good Maritime section.)   All the profits go to supporting orphaned children in India.  Those going on the walk are advised to visit the bookshop earlier in the day.

We hope you will be able join us for all or part of the day.  It would be helpful to know if you are planning to eat in the pub, so that we can let them have an idea of numbers.

Parking in the village is difficult and the streets narrow.  The Ancient Mariner has kindly said that we may leave our cars in their car park, behind the pub.