We decided we needed to go somewhere quiet and secluded after experiencing London and all its population that love to rush everywhere. After much research on our wonderful friend Google we decided on Bagnell Cottage, in a little place called Norton-Sub-Hamdon, Somerset. A beautiful little Bed & Breakfast run by the wonderful Eileen, who is like your favourite aunty that you would stay with for the summer and spoil you rotten. She picked us up from the post office, and along the way gave us a quick driving tour of the area including all the local walking paths and some of the wildlife.
The nearest train station is Yeovil or Crewkerne, and it costs around £15 for a taxi from both to Norton-Sub-Hamdon Post Office.
There are only a couple of rooms at Bagnell Cottage all with ensuite, they are beautiful, clean, spacious and warm which is about all a person needs for a couple of days in the country during winter. The beds are big and comfy, and all rooms have a TV, coffee-making facilities, hairdryer, hot water bottle (great if you don’t have someone else to help you warm the bed), shower gel, hand wash and fresh towels. The lounge room has two couches, a dining table and a large TV with a selection of oldish videos to keep you amused on rainy days, along with a little wood heater to keep you cozy.
Eileen does an amazing job at breakfast, cereal, fruit (from her own garden), jams (from the local area), and a huge english breakfast that will fill your bellies ready for the days adventures (again from her chickens – the eggs I mean!). The animals are friendly George the cat loves to be scratched under the chin, and Arthur the dog greets you by jumping into the car and giving you a big lick up the side of your face as he did to me. Don’t worry if you are not an animal lover as Eileen keeps them tucked away and will only let them into the common area if you ask.
Two things to take note of: the nearest shop/pub is a good 20 mintues walk, and the wifi is not the most reliable.
For all you fitness enthusiasts there are public footpaths around every corner, leading to all the little towns and villages of the area, crossing fields and hills with the most amazing views of Somerset countryside. We took one of these such paths to find the nearest pub that did lunch, sadly the Lord Nelson at Norton-Sub-Hamdon seemed to either never be open or had finished serving food so we trekked 2 miles up to the Prince of Wales pub on Ham Hill. Nestled amongst all the walking tracks and the Ham Hill Country Park (National Park), we ate a tasty meal and tried some local Ales in a pub where dogs were 
allowed to come inside and seemed to almost have right of way over humans.
Just down the path from the pub are the standing stones, which were erected for the Quarry men’s commemoration a couple of years ago, they were interesting but I’m sure nothing on the infamous Stonehenge.
We were lucky enough to spot a young deer in on our journey back to Little Norton, along with a few mischievous squirrels that would jump from tree to tree, some emerald-green ducks, and newly born bleating lambs. Norton-Sub-Hamdon is a little village full of historically listed houses and an amazing gothic looking church, water runs through canals and through a water wheel at the edge of town.
The next couple of days were spent lazing in bed reading books, enjoying the fresh air, photographing snowdrops, and the obligatory walk to the Prince of Wales.
We planned to stay for 3 nights but ended up staying for a whole week, leaving completely relaxed and ready for our next journey. 
Thanks for the snowdrops. Now all you need to find for me are bluebells in the early Spring. Your pics are very clear and certainly show the place as I know it to be.
Love MumJ
Posted by Anonymous | 04/03/2012, 08:16