Somerset Village - Nice ones to live in

[Frenchda]

Thinking about a big lifestyle change.
We are toying with the idea of selling our beautiful Thameside house in Reading and upping sticks to a Somerset village.
I would weekend commute, with a Wednesday night/ Thursday morning commute as well (excuse for another bike!)
We know very little about Somerset but would appreciate any input in where to be looking.
Criteria:

2 hours from Reading
Rural/semi rural
MUST have a pub
Ideally within 30 mins of coast
Active village community

Any idea’s?

Thanks.

Mods – I don’t know where to put this?

[Frenchda]

Thanks all. Spent a week mooching (although I drove back to Reading twice for meetings!) and viewed many cottages.

Compromised on distance and just increased my weekly commute but I think we have found our happy!

Stogumber - offer on a house today! This sts suddenly got very real .

Oh and the Reading house just sold!!!

Edited by Frenchda on Friday 20th October 13:19

[Frenchda]

IroningMan said:

Does it come with a free copy of Lorna Doone?

Ahh the quiet country life!

[Frenchda]

guitarcarfanatic said:

Love Stogumber - enjoy Stogumber fest next summer! Congrats!!

And Stogumbeer

[Frenchda]

Lukeypoodle said:

Was about to hop in and recommend Priddy but it sound spike you've done rather well anyway in finding a place.


Always worth a trip into Minehead for brunch at the Toucan from there.

Booze lunch and get the steam train home

[Frenchda]

Move in the 26th of this month. 15 mins from great hills and great beaches for the mutts.

[Frenchda]

Bumpkin Update!

Been here a little while now.

Stog is a really active, friendly place. We have been made to feel very welcome, the pub is the hub, I can walk in now and get my pint poured without asking (a problem if I fancy a gin!). Lots going on and a real sense of community which I didn't realise how much I missed.

Been snowed in, run out of oil, wife has become a SLAG (Stogumber Ladies Group, who as far as I can gather just appear to drink a lot) and have made some good friends already.

Dogs are walked daily on the beach, about to get their first load of sheep offal from one of the local farmers and generally are made a huge fuss of everywhere they go - it appears you cannot go to the pub unless you bring at least one dog!

I weekend commute, home on Fridays can be a pain but to pass the time estoy aprendiendo a hablar español, which is going well smile. Monday early start not an issue.

ITS BLOODY QUIET, in a lovely way (other than the pesky steam trains). And dark!!!!

Initial impressions are that I love it. When I come along the top of the valley on a Friday night on my commute in and look down it really is "Chicken soup for the soul".