North Somerset Area Guide

North Somerset is made up of over 75 towns and villages and is situated southwest of Bristol and north of the Mendip hills. Outstanding primary schools and secondary schools attract families, whilst the many transport links draw in a mass of commuters. Towns are well serviced with Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco supermarkets, a leisure centre, swimming pools and many boutique shops, independent cafes and restaurants, and several public houses serving food and drinks. The North Somerset Levels has wildlife habitats including the Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors biological Site of Specific Scientific Interest and the area is renowned for its many nature reserves, lakes, woodlands and country and coastal walks. Finally, it has to be mentioned that North Somerset is the birth place of ‘The Wurzels’ band, famous for their number one hit ‘The Combine Harvester’.

Abbots Leigh & Leigh Woods

The beautiful villages of Abbots Leigh & Leigh Woods are situated just 3 miles west of Bristol, neighboring Clifton but separated by the River Avon and connected via Clifton Suspension bridge. The areas are known for substantial detached homes and The National Trust Leigh Woods Nature Reserve.

The National Trust Leigh Woods

Backwell

Backwell is the closest village to Nailsea and shares not only its train station, but ‘Buckland’s Pool’ commonly known as Backwell Lake, a hot spot for wildlife and dog walkers. The village is popular with families due to its schools (primary and secondary), larger houses and its village atmosphere. The small town has a healthy community feel with many amenities including a swimming pool, several pubs, convenience store, a great fish and chip shop and the thriving Backwell Playhouse theatre.

Barrow Gurney

The pretty village of Barrow Gurney has a population of approximately 350 and sits 5 miles southwest of Bristol city centre. Picturesque throughout with stone-built cottages and farmhouses, narrow winding roads and a beautiful mill pond. Amenities are limited to a post office, a farm shop and a great pub. The village also has one of the smallest libraries, in the form of a red telephone box filled with books, which are swapped amongst the community.

Brockley & Cleeve

The villages of Brockley & Cleeve sit approximately 9 miles southwest of Bristol City Centre and are overlooked by several hills and valleys, which support a rich diversity of wildlife. Properties vary in age, but are mostly larger houses and cottages, with several farm houses and barn conversions.

Clapton, Easton, Walton & Weston-in-Gordano

The four villages have a combined population over 5,750 with Easton-in-Gordano having the dominant share. Located in the Gordano Valley, the small villages are surrounded by two nature reserves, hectares of ancient woodlands, wetlands, wild flower meadows and farmland. Its residents can enjoy superb walks and spotting an abundance of wildlife including woodpeckers, Tawny Owls and bats. Properties vary from beautiful period cottages, to more modern 70s houses and Weston-in-Gordano boasts a popular 18th-century pub named The White Hart, well known for it's great food and selection of drinks. More well-known perhaps is Cadbury Camp Lane in Clapton-in-Gordano, the 'Millionaires Row' of the southwest where over 50 luxury homes sit on generous plots, most behind private gates.

Clevedon

A seaside town with Victorian detached and townhouses, a popular promenade, gardens and Victorian bandstand, pier and the enigmatic Curzon Cinema which dates back to 1912. Clevedon Pier is one of the earliest examples of a Victorian pier still in existence in the UK and sea trips can be taken from the pier to various destinations along the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. Other landmarks include The Clock Tower in the town centre, Clevedon Court, Walton Castle, Poets’ Walk (named to commemorate the poets and writers who visited Clevedon including Coleridge and Tennyson) and Ladye Bay, whilst modern amenities include a leisure centre and swimming pool, primary and secondary schools, several supermarkets and the boutique shops, independent restaurants and cafes of Hill Road. Clevedon also benefits from direct access to Junction 20 of the M5, providing a commuter with ease to Bristol or Exeter and Devon. A weekly market is held in the town every Thursday and an artisans’ market on the first Sunday of the month (April to December) in the vicinity of Hill Road.

Congresbury

The pretty village of Congresbury is home to the Double Tree at Hilton Cadbury House, a large hotel and events venue and Cadbury Garden Centre one of the largest garden and leisure centres within the local area. The River Yeo flows through Congresbury as well as the A370 providing an easy commute to Junction 21 of the M5 or towards Bristol City Centre.

Failand and Lower Failand

The two villages are one mile apart and are great a general store/coffee shop, a pub, church, village hall and an observatory which hosts stargazing events run by Bristol Astronomical Society. The villages are surrounded by fields and woodlands and situated with only a short drive to Bristol City Centre. Many equestrian homes are situated in Lower Failand, off of the infamous Horse Race Lane.

Flax Bourton

Flax Bourton connects Backwell to Bristol via the Long Ashton Bypass. The village is popular with commuters, with easy access to Bristol City Centre, Bristol Airport and Nailsea & Backwell Train Station. A primary school, village hall, public house, Norman Church and popular cricket ground are all on offer and many recreational facilities are close by for anyone who enjoys walking, cycling, riding and golfing and the David Lloyd Health & Leisure Centre is situated within 4.5 miles.

Kenn

With a population just over 400, Kenn is located on the North Somerset Levels between Nailsea, Clevedon and Yatton. Flowing through the small village is the River Kenn, a popular spot for fishing.

Long Ashton

The popular village of Long Ashton is one of the larger villages on the outskirts of Bristol. The location offers a short drive in to Bristol City Centre for commuters and good schools and recreational facilities for families. The David Lloyd leisure centre is within a short walk, as is Ashton Court, an 850 acre estate with house and gardens, grass and woodlands open to the public and the house offered for private hire to host weddings and parties. Ashton Court is also home of The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Nailsea

Nailsea is located approximately 8 miles southwest of Bristol and 11 miles northeast of the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. Historically the town was known for coal mining and glass work production, today it is favoured for its excellent primary and secondary schools, shops, cafes and transport links to Bristol, the M5 corridor, Bristol Airport and trains from Nailsea & Backwell Train Station. The station provides Great Western services to Bristol Temple Meads, Weston-super-Mare, Cardiff and London Paddington. Popular haunts include The Coates House cafe bar, The Blue Flame pub, Scotch Horn Leisure Centre and Millennium Park. Familiar stores like Waitrose, Tesco, Boots and Costa Coffee are also situated in the town centre, surrounded by a variety of independently run shops and businesses, a library and a post office. There are two fish and chip shops, one on the high street and one a short distance from the town centre. The town centre hosts a weekly market every Tuesday and a popular Farmers’ Market on the third Saturday of each month. Churches include the 14th-century Holy Trinity Church; Christ Church which was built in 1843; St Francis RC Church and Nailsea Baptist Church.

Portishead

A coastal town on the Severn Estuary with an ever-growing population currently held at 25,000. The Portishead Marina has seen the town grow in numbers and popularity, especially with young professionals and has just had approval for the re-opening of a train station. Facilities include a leisure centre with swimming pool, marina, good schools and a great high street with an array of bars, restaurants and cafes. Property types vary greatly from marina apartments to large mansions and villas.

Tickenham

Twinned with the French town of Aigne (near Le Mans) the ornate village is nestled between Clevedon and Nailsea and is surrounded by beautiful open countryside with arguably some of the best walks in the local area including Cadbury Camp, an Iron Age hill fort to the north of the village. Despite the lack of shops, Tickenham is well served with a popular primary school, Anglican Church, Town Hall, a pub and a golf course and driving range. Property types vary from large detached houses and bungalows with open views of the countryside, to small terraced cottages.

National Trust - Clevedon Court

Wraxall

Until 1811 the parish of the same name also included Nailsea and Flax Bourton. It is now within the parish of Wraxall and Failand. The population almost doubled in the late ’90s after Bryant Homes built ‘The Elms’ (named after a well-known Elm Tree cut down in 1977). The majority of these new homes are large executive four and five-bedroom detached houses, some with beautiful countryside views, others overlooking a duck pond. Wraxall is also home to several tourist attractions including: The National Trust’s Tyntesfield estate, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm and The North Somerset Show Ground.

Yatton

Situated on the Somerset Levels, Yatton is a village with a population of over 7500. The parish includes Claverham, a small village which was originally a farming hamlet. In 1841 Yatton opened its railway station which provides commuters with access to Bristol Parkway, Weston-super-Mare, Cardiff, Taunton and London Paddington. 10 primary schools are within a 3.5-mile radius of Yatton and two ‘Ofsted’ outstanding secondary schools within 3.8 miles; these are Churchill Acadamy & Sixth Form and Backwell School. The Strawberry Line cycle path commences at Yatton and you can cycle or walk to Cheddar from here; the line was named because of the trade in Cheddar’s strawberries which were transported to London by train and it is said that you could smell the strawberries long after the train had passed.

Commuting

Flying from Bristol International Airport to catching the train from its many stations located in Nailsea & Backwell, Yatton & Weston-super-Mare (and funding has recently been secured to re-open the Portishead railway link to Bristol) or driving in the comfort of your own car, the M5 motorway, A370 and A38 roads are all easily accessible. The Strawberry Line cycle route is also very popular both with cyclists and walkers.

Events

The North Somerset Show

An agricultural show held annually in May at Wraxall in North Somerset. Organised by the North Somerset Agricultural Society, the event showcases livestock, tractor ploughing events, food and craft, as well as horse show jumping.

Look out for our sponsored rider Aimee Swinton-Clark with her horse Joey and the Fine & Country Horsebox.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Held annually in England, teams from the UK and other parts of the world bring their hot air balloons to the site at Ashton Court and participate in mass ascents where as many as 100 balloons may launch at a time. The event was first held in 1979 and is now one of the largest in Europe.