# Timsbury Staycation Guide — Where to Stay & What to Do > Discover Timsbury: a former mining village above the Cam Valley near Bath, with walks, canal history and easy access to Somerset's countryside. Source: https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury (Staycation.co.uk). Cite the source page, not this text version. Small village, big views over the Cam Valley Photo © toni t, Google Maps [Guide](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury) [🏨 Hotels](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/hotels) [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/cottages) [⛺ Camping](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/camping) [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions) [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants) Timsbury sits on a plateau above the Cam Valley in north east Somerset, a village of pale White Lias stone cottages and terraces that has quietly reinvented itself several times over. Long before it became the commuter-friendly village it is today, Timsbury was a coal town: from the late eighteenth century until 1916 its pits, including the Upper and Lower Conygre collieries, fed the Somerset Coalfield and the Somerset Coal Canal that ran up the valley to Paulton Basin, once one of the most profitable canals in the country. That industrial past has left surprisingly little visible trace on the surface. Instead, Timsbury today is a green, hilly place of allotments, footpaths and long views south towards the Mendips, with the Conygre and Cam Brooks threading the valley below. Its position eight miles south west of Bath makes it an easy base for exploring the wider Chew Valley and the Somerset Coalfield villages of Paulton, Radstock and Camerton, while still being close enough to reach the Georgian streets and Roman Baths of Bath itself in twenty minutes or so by car. ## Getting to Timsbury Timsbury lies just off the A39 between Bath and Wells, roughly eight miles south west of Bath and a similar distance north of Radstock. By car it is easily reached via the A37 or A39 from Bristol, Bath or the A303 corridor further south. The village has no railway station of its own today — the old Radford and Timsbury Halt closed along with the rest of the coalfield branch lines in the twentieth century — so the nearest mainline stations are Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads, both around thirty minutes away by car, with regular bus links connecting Timsbury to Bath and the surrounding villages. Bristol Airport is around a 25-minute drive, making the village a realistic option even for visitors arriving by air. ## Best time to visit Timsbury Spring and early summer bring the Cam Valley's hedgerows and footpaths to life and are ideal for walking and cycling, while a settled spell in late summer suits picnics on the surrounding hills and evenings outside the village pub. Autumn colours the beech woods around Camerton and Stanton Drew beautifully and tends to be quieter for those wanting the countryside to themselves. Winter has its own appeal for anyone interested in the village's coal-mining history, when bare trees reveal more of the old canal and tramway routes threading the valley, and Bath's Christmas market is a popular nearby draw. ## Where to stay in Timsbury(1) [All hotels in Timsbury →](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/hotels) About staying in Timsbury Timsbury makes a peaceful, low-key base for a Somerset hotel stay, ideal for visitors who want the countryside on their doorstep without giving up easy access to Bath. The village itself has no large hotels — its charm lies instead in small bed and breakfasts, farmhouse rooms and converted barns tucked into the surrounding Cam Valley, many run by locals who know the walking routes and coalfield history well. This makes Timsbury a good choice for couples and walkers looking for a quiet stopover rather than a resort-style hotel experience. For a wider choice of hotels, from budget chains to boutique townhouses and grand Georgian conversions, Bath itself is only around twenty minutes away by car and offers everything from spa hotels to characterful coaching inns, many within walking distance of the Roman Baths and Royal Crescent. Staying in Timsbury and driving into Bath for the day is a popular pattern for visitors who prefer to sleep somewhere quieter than the city centre, especially during busy summer weekends and the Bath Christmas Market period when the city's hotels fill up and prices rise. Radstock and Midsomer Norton, a few miles south, also offer a handful of budget hotel and guesthouse options. Whichever base you choose, Timsbury's position on the plateau above the Cam Valley means most accommodation nearby comes with genuine countryside views, and the village's footpaths and quiet lanes make it easy to walk off a big breakfast before heading out for the day. [The Seven Stars North Road, Timsbury](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/hotels/the-seven-stars) [Conygre Bungalow Radford Hill, Bath](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/hotels/conygre-bungalow) [The Old Malt House Hotel Radford Hill, Bath](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/hotels/the-old-malt-house-hotel) [King William IV Tunley, Bath](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/hotels/king-william-iv) [The Hunters Rest Inn King Lane, Clutton](https://staycation.co.uk/clutton/hotels/the-hunters-rest-inn) [The Radstock Hotel Market Place, Radstock](https://staycation.co.uk/radstock/hotels/the-radstock-hotel) [The Old Priory Church Square, Radstock](https://staycation.co.uk/radstock/hotels/the-old-priory) [The Temple Inn Main Road, Temple Cloud](https://staycation.co.uk/temple-cloud/hotels/the-temple-inn) ## Things to Do in Timsbury [All attractions in Timsbury →](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions) Top things to do in Timsbury Timsbury rewards a slower pace: it is a village for walkers, cyclists and anyone curious about the industrial archaeology hidden in its hedgerows, rather than a place stacked with big-ticket attractions. - **St Mary's Church** — a Grade II* listed church rebuilt in 1826-32 with later additions by the renowned Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott, sitting at the historic heart of the village. - **Timsbury Coal Mines trail** — walking routes around the village trace the sites of the old Conygre pits and the remains of the Somerset Coal Canal, with information boards explaining the coalfield's two-hundred-year history. - **Camerton Batch and the Cam Valley** — the wooded valley running from Timsbury towards Camerton follows the old coal canal and railway line, now a peaceful walking and cycling route past former mining hamlets. - **Two Tunnels Greenway** — a short drive or ride away in Bath, this popular cycle path runs through two former Victorian railway tunnels, including the almost mile-long Combe Down Tunnel. - **Timsbury Sports and Social Club** — the social hub of the village, with pitches and courts used by local cricket, football and tennis clubs; Timsbury has a long cricketing tradition and produced Somerset player Jimmy Bridges. - **Vale House Kitchen** — a country cookery school based in the village running hands-on baking and cooking courses in a converted barn setting. - **Stanton Drew Stone Circles** — a few miles west, one of the largest and least-visited Neolithic stone circle complexes in Britain, cared for by English Heritage. - **Bath city centre** — the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the Royal Crescent are all within a twenty-minute drive, making a day trip from Timsbury an easy addition to any stay. [Hamburger Hill Paintball ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/hamburger-hill-paintball) [Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/somerset-coalfield-life-at-radstock-museum) [Farrington’s Farm Park and Playbarn ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/farrington-s-farm-park-and-playbarn) [Somerset & Dorset Railway ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/somerset-and-dorset-railway) [Dragonfly Leisure ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/dragonfly-leisure) [Writhlington Sports and Leisure Centre ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/writhlington-sports-and-leisure-centre) [Planet Volt ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/planet-volt) [The Bird of Prey Project ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions/the-bird-of-prey-project) ## Where to Eat in Timsbury(1) [All restaurants in Timsbury →](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants) Food and drink in Timsbury The Seven Stars on North Road is Timsbury's own village pub, a friendly local serving classic pub food and a well-kept pint at the heart of the community. A few minutes away in neighbouring Priston, the Ring O'Bells is a popular countryside pub with a roaring fire, a beer garden and a menu of home-cooked, locally sourced dishes. For something more hands-on, Vale House Kitchen in the village runs cookery courses using seasonal, local ingredients, while the wider Chew Valley offers farm shops and produce stalls selling meat, cheese and vegetables grown within a few miles of Timsbury. Bath's much larger restaurant scene, from casual cafes to Michelin-recognised dining, is only a short drive away for anyone wanting more variety. [Seven Stars Timsbury ⭐ 4.4](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/seven-stars-timsbury) [King William Inn ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/king-william-inn) [La Campagna ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/la-campagna) [Vobster Diving Ltd ⭐ 4.8](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/vobster-diving-ltd) [The Pig Bath ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/the-pig-bath) [Shapla Indian Restaurant ⭐ 4.2](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/shapla-indian-restaurant) [🍽️Restaurant Tee It Up (The Tee Hut) ⭐ 5.0](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/tee-it-up-the-tee-hut) [Radstock Museum Co ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants/radstock-museum-co) ## Attractions Near Timsbury [All attractions in Timsbury →](https://staycation.co.uk/attractions) Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Timsbury. [3 mi Hamburger Hill Paintball Bristol · ⭐ 4.1](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/hamburger-hill-paintball) [3 mi Somerset Coalfield Life at Radstock Museum Radstock · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/radstock/attractions/somerset-coalfield-life-at-radstock-museum) [3 mi Farrington’s Farm Park and Playbarn Bristol · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/attractions/farrington-s-farm-park-and-playbarn) [3 mi Somerset & Dorset Railway Midsomer Norton · ⭐ 4.7](https://staycation.co.uk/midsomer-norton/attractions/somerset-and-dorset-railway) [3 mi Dragonfly Leisure Radstock · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/radstock/attractions/dragonfly-leisure) [3 mi Writhlington Sports and Leisure Centre Bath · ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/attractions/writhlington-sports-and-leisure-centre) [3 mi Planet Volt Radstock · ⭐ 4.5](https://staycation.co.uk/radstock/attractions/planet-volt) [4 mi The Bird of Prey Project Bath · ⭐ 4.9](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/attractions/the-bird-of-prey-project) ## Camping in Timsbury [All campsites in Timsbury →](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/camping) About camping in Timsbury Somerset's rolling coalfield countryside around Timsbury is well suited to campers and glampers who want easy access to Bath without staying in the city itself. As in the rest of England, wild camping is not permitted here without the landowner's explicit permission, so it is worth booking a proper campsite or farm pitch in advance rather than relying on informal spots in the Cam Valley or the surrounding hills — Forestry England and the National Trust sites in the wider Mendip and Chew Valley area do not allow unauthorised camping either. The terrain around Timsbury is gently hilly rather than dramatic, a patchwork of pasture, hedgerows and old coalfield tracks running down towards the Cam and Conygre Brooks, which makes for easy, family-friendly walking and cycling straight from a tent door. Sites in the wider area range from simple certified sites with a handful of pitches to larger family-run campsites with electric hook-ups, showers and a farm shop selling local produce, many within a short drive of both Timsbury and Bath. Spring through early autumn is the best window for camping here, with April to September offering the driest and warmest conditions; Somerset's clay-heavy soils can turn heavy and slow-draining after prolonged winter rain, so shoulder-season trips are best planned around a settled forecast. Glamping has grown steadily in this part of Somerset, with converted shepherd's huts, safari tents and yurts appearing on farms around the Chew Valley and Mendip foothills, offering a warmer, more sheltered alternative for those who want the views and quiet of the countryside without giving up a proper bed. Many of these sites make a good base for combining a countryside stay with day trips into Bath, Wells or the Mendip Hills. [Loves Hill Camping ⭐ 4.8 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/camping/loves-hill-camping) [Ruby's Retreat ⭐ 5.0 · from £340/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/camping/ruby-s-retreat) [Willow Farm ⭐ 4.5 · from £55/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/camping/willow-farm) [Cam Bridge Camping ⭐ 5.0 · from £20/night](https://staycation.co.uk/midsomer-norton/camping/cam-bridge-camping) [Dagger Wood Campsite ⭐ 4.7 · from £10/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bristol/camping/dagger-wood-campsite) [Bury View Farm Caravan and Campsite ⭐ 4.3 · from £24/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/camping/bury-view-farm-caravan-and-campsite) [Old Mill Lodge Retreat ⭐ 4.6](https://staycation.co.uk/ayr/camping/old-mill-lodge-retreat) [Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park ⭐ 4.6 · from £33/night](https://staycation.co.uk/bath/camping/bath-chew-valley-caravan-park) ## Self-Catering Cottages in Timsbury [All cottages in Timsbury →](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/cottages) [Zadena 3 bed · sleeps 6 · from £425](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/zadena-syk1175301) [Crooked Well 2 bed · sleeps 5 · from £437](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/crooked-well-syk1055308) [🏡Cottage Pinecone Lodges- Apple 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £363](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/pinecone-lodges-apple-uk46285) [🏡Cottage Pinecone Lodges- Magnolia Lodge 2 bed · sleeps 6 · from £601](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/pinecone-lodges-magnolia-lodge-uk46280) [🏡Cottage Pinecone Lodges 2 cottages · from £543](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/pinecone-lodges-maple-uk46284) [🏡Cottage Bell tent 3 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £310](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/bell-tent-3-syk1172401) [🏡Cottage Bell tent 4 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £310](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/bell-tent-4-syk1172419) [🏡Cottage Bell tent 2 1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £310](https://staycation.co.uk/bath-and-north-east-somerset/cottages/bell-tent-2-syk1171860) ## Common questions about Timsbury Where can I stay in Timsbury? We list 1 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Timsbury. Where can I eat in Timsbury? We list 1 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Timsbury. ### 🏨 Find Hotels in Timsbury Search hotels, B&Bs and self-catering on Booking.com. [Search Accommodation →](https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-101762279-15734754?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fsearchresults.en-gb.html%3Fss%3DTimsbury%252C%2BUnited%2BKingdom) Affiliate link ### Explore Timsbury - [🏨 Hotels & B&Bs](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/hotels) - [🏡 Cottages](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/cottages) - [⛺ Campsites & glamping](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/camping) - [🎟️ Attractions](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/attractions) - [🍽️ Restaurants](https://staycation.co.uk/timsbury/restaurants) - [🗺️ More in Somerset](https://staycation.co.uk/somerset) - [🧭 All of the South West](https://staycation.co.uk/regions/south-west) ## Staycation ideas for Timsbury [All staycation ideas →](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas) [The Best Last-Minute UK Staycations Six well-connected UK towns and cities worth booking at short notice, chosen for easy travel and a decent spread of accommodation once the school-holiday crowds have thinned.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-last-minute-staycations) [Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather When the forecast turns grim, these UK cities and spa towns keep their appeal indoors, with museums, galleries and grand architecture to fill a wet weekend.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/rainy-day-staycations-uk) [The Best Dog-Friendly Staycations in Britain From Cornish coast paths to Lake District fells, these six British destinations offer the open beaches, moors and forests that make a staycation genuinely enjoyable for dogs and their owners alike.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/dog-friendly-staycations) [The Best UK Staycations for Families with Young Kids From New Forest ponies to Cornish rock pools, these six UK destinations combine easy logistics, safe beaches and family-friendly attractions for a stress-free break with young children.](https://staycation.co.uk/staycation-ideas/best-staycations-for-families)