Newton St Loe before is one of our go-to spots. It’s just 5 minutes east of Bath with a great cafe with a children’s area outdoors and a well stocked farm shop. I’ve featured a short walk nearby but it’s also a good place to pick up some countryside footpaths. A short walk from the farm is a small playground and we’ve been known to get an ice cream from the post office shop on the way. There’s also the Falconry & Owlery which is definitely worth a visit.
The Walk. 4km 1.5hrs mostly flat & paved
I’ve seen many people lacing up their hiking boots in the car park so this is clearly a popular spot to start and end a good ole yomp in the countryside. However, I’ve chosen a really simple circuit nearby, perhaps to walk of your Sunday roast or take the kids scooting. It’s a lovely gentle, nearly flat, 1 hour paved walk, very close and mud free. The entrance doesn’t fit a buggy through but if you can lift it over, the path is smooth and not too steep.
MAP & DIRECTIONS
Walking Map & Directions – below is a fully interactive map with directions, elevation & distances. Download the plotaroute app to follow the route on your phone with a few simple steps.
The Farm Shop. The small but well stocked farm shop has an array of delicious locally grown and made produce, homeware, plants and flowers. You can also shop online. There’s a butchers with meat from the Newton Park Estate, a dairy, fresh artisan bread and pastries from The Bertinet Bakery and British flowers locally grown by Sarah Wilson of Compton Garden Flowers.
Every Wednesday, Steve from Fishman With A Difference is at the Farm Shop selling fresh, line caught fish.
The Cafe. A delicious menu of fresh, local produce. Plenty of indoor seating or outdoor choose from the terrace, a shepards hut or alfresco or marquee cover. There’s also a play area for the children with tractors, a little shelter with bricks and chalkboard.
The Village. A beautiful village with stone walls and pretty cottages surrounded by arable farmland and grassland. It’s predominantly owned by Duchy of Cornwall. To the south west of the village and close to the route of the Wansdyke is the Newton Park campus of Bath Spa University. The site has a lake, nature reserve, woodland and farmland.
The Playground. A short walk from the farm shop there’s a small enclosed playground in a huge field. It’s got a climbing structure, slide and a few swings.
The Falconry & Owlry. Next door to the cafe is The Falconry which we visited last year. It’s incredible to see these huge birds of prey and so many different types of owls up close. The children were fascinated to listen to their calls. We watched a long eared owl getting some exercise & a short talk about their habitat, hunting techniques and what food they eat which was fascinating.
The centres mission is to protect wild birds of prey and Owls through education, rehabilitation and conservation, to promote a high standard of animal welfare and to preserve the historic art of British Falconry.
Adults £4, Children & Seniors £2, under 7s free
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- PARKING: Map. Plenty of free parking at the farm shop or there’s free parking on the road
- BUGGY FRIENDLY: Yes
- DOG FRIENDLY: Yes
- TOILETS: In the cafe