Timsbury

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.

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.

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

Timsbury itself has no large hotels, which is part of its appeal — accommodation tends to be bed and breakfasts, farmhouse rooms and self-catering cottages in and around the village, with a wider choice of hotels and guesthouses in nearby Bath for those who want more facilities on their doorstep. Camping and glamping options are dotted through the surrounding Chew Valley and Mendip countryside, giving easy access to both the village and the city.

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.