We are townies originally from Bristol now living in a very rural part of Somerset, a small village called Baltonsborough in Somerset. The village had a population of 864 people in the 2011 Census, I would imagine the number of villagers has grown considerably since then!
Our village is a very old established place listed in the Doomsday Book. The parish of Baltonsborough includes the hamlets of Ham Street, Catsham and Southwood. We have a village hall, a pub, a very old church St Dunstans, a war memorial, the Baltonsborough Bullet, a telephone box, a primary school, two children's playgrounds, a village shop with a Post Office and a heritage orchard. We also have the renowned Millfield School on our door step, with a boarding house, St Annes in the village. So Baltonsborough is definitely a thriving community with a Village Hall and much going on.
The village is 5 miles from Glastonbury, 5.9 miles from Street and the Clarks Village complex and 10.4 miles from the City of Wells. We are also lucky to have a bus route through the village, although buses are rather scarce! Most importantly for walkers, we are spoiled by approximately 48 designated footpaths and loads of permitted paths too, all from the village.
As well as all this lush countryside and views of Glastonbury Tor from many angles, we are also surrounded by beautiful apple orchards. Cider was a big thing in these parts and the heritage orchards make up a large part of the landscape. Cheese making, dairy cows, sheep, goats, chickens and the odd celebrity all live in the village. It is also the famed birth place of St Dunstan whom the church is named after. We also have the celebrated River Brue running through the village and the Weir known as the Baltonsborough Flights, a wild swimming spot.....freezing but bracing apparently! Kids find it popular during the summer.
The War Memorial, alongside the Baltonsborough Bullet. Very well maintained by the thriving British Legion, who have recently celebrated the centenary of the Baltonsborough branch. Proximity to the naval base at Yeovilton means we always have a number of military people residing in the village and many military retirees.
Baltonsborough Community Orchard. Planted for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. A whole range of different apple trees.
St Dunstan's Church a really peaceful spot by the river.
Always there and a sign we have arrived home. The Tor!
The Greyhound Pub. A friendly place and beautifully within staggering distance. They keep a good pint too, so I've been told.
Nearby Glastonbury home to the hippies and other crazy dressers, with plenty of witches and wizards thrown into the brew. Always good for a few spells and a bit of street art to rival Banksy. Loads of pubs, cafes and millions of tourists. Sadly lots of streetside campers too, but I guess it adds to the quirkiness of the place.
Street, with the open air Lido, brilliant on a hot summers day and of course shopping heaven at Clarks Village. Street is a much more sensible place for everyday needs and well served with supermarkets. Market days are of course a feature of most rural areas and Glastonbury, Street and Wells all have their own.
The iconic Glastonbury Tor is in evidence from everywhere, although you can't quite see it from our garden! We are told when we moved in that during the Glastonbury Festival, held in June, you can hear the bass, when the wind blows in the right direction. Very true we could hear it, just a shame I couldn't co ordinate it with the telly! Pilton, home to the festival is just across the back fields.
The beauty of living in this lovely setting are always fields to ramble through in the summer and roads to roam around if it's wet. Of course there is always the chance you will encounter the odd bit of agricultural machinery and of course livestock but generally it is quiet. Brilliant for walking and cycling! This is also doggie heaven, everyone second person has a family pooch.
We are ever grateful to live in such a beautiful place.
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