Pretty village with 'magical' landmark that's rivals Stonehenge
The iconic stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury are a familiar sight drawing tourists in the thousands every year. However you don't have to travel out of Somerset to find some historic gems perfect for explorers.
Nestled in a small, picturesque village in northeast Somerset, Stanton Drew offers an ideal destination for a day out. Not only does this village boast the third-largest collection of prehistoric standing stones in England, but its also close to charming country pubs receiving top-notch reviews.
English Heritage notes that Stanton Drew still proudly displays 26 upright stones, yet it remains surprisingly little known when contrasted with the more frequented sites in the neighbouring county. For those considering a trip, who can even start in Pensford, celebrated for its impressive viaduct, and visit the pub with the 'best beer garden' in the UK.
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Mapped out conveniently by the local parish council, visitors can embark on a scenic five-mile circular route that meanders through open fields and trails along the River Chew. Come late spring, these riverbank meadows blossom with dandelions and buttercups, and sheep can often be seen grazing upon the hillside.
The trail guides you through a woodland, past a quaint weir and along a path opposite a luxurious shepherd's hut that is available for rent. There are shorter routes between the stone circles and Pensford, but this one also takes you via the Carpenters Arms at Stanton Wick, as reports Wiltshire Live. A Google reviewer praised it as "without doubt our favourite pub within reasonable driving distance from home in Bristol".
The directions include a list of intriguing landmarks and historical facts about points you'll pass along the way. The parish council's guide explains the village name: "Stanton Drew was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Stantone, meaning 'the stone enclosure with an oak tree' from the Old English stan and tun and from the Celtic deru."
"After the Norman Conquest, the Lords of the Manor took their name from the village. One of the family Drogo or Drew gave his name to the place to distinguish it from Stanton Prior and Stanton Wick. It was commemorated by Adge Cutler in his song 'When the Common Market comes to Stanton Drew'."
The guide emphasises how Stanton Wick used to be a significant mining area, home to small 'bell pits' and then Bromley Pit which closed in 1957. The Carpenters Arms is believed to have originally been a row of cottages for the men who worked at the mines.
For those who enjoy a refreshing walk in the countryside, complete with historical landmarks and welcoming pubs at each end, Stanton Drew is an ideal destination. A recent visitor named James shared his experience on Google Reviews: "Very quiet and undisturbed. Comes with none of the business of all the popular places like Stonehenge. Free with £1 honesty box and roughly five parking spaces."
Chris, another visitor, commented: "Very interesting, seems magical and mystic, got lost for an hour just wandering around trying to work out how the stones got there."