Perfect villages in Somerset

[stressed0ut]

Can anyone recommend some lovely villages which are commutable to Bridgwater (ie within 45mins drive)? We need access to a great primary school, would like to be about 5 miles from a small town and we have a pretty decent budget. Suggest away.... :)

[kitsmummy]

If you have a healthy budget then I think that Wedmore is the perfect village! Has a handful of beautiful, independent shops, butcher etc. A gorgeous pub with excellent food (The George, Wedmore). It's about 7 miles from Wells which is a beautiful small but thriving city. The primary school and the secondary school are both excellent. There are lots of lovely villages nearby (Bleadney, Henton, Yarley, Priddy, Westbury Sub Mendip), most of these are more rural without the shops etc, but all lovely. It's about 35 mins from Bridgwater so in the right area for you. Also look around Wells, lots of lovely villages in the direct vicinity of Wells.

[KarenG]

How about Porlock? In the Exmoor National Park, stunning views, walks, village amenities (inc primary school). Near to Minehead for the larger supermarkets etc but also has two mini markets, 3 pubs, a few restaurants, some speciality shops and some local life. I would say all this even if I wasn't selling ... there are a few family houses on the market, not just ours, of course.
www.exmoorlodge.co.uk/index.htm

[CombineArvester]

The commute from Porlock to Bridgewater can be pretty arduous on the windy windy west somerset roads. I don't know how old your kids are but there used to be a few drugs around in Porlock too. Though you probably can't get away from that anywhere (yes! even Wedmore! Full of poshos though).

To be about 5 miles from a small town...well some of the towns in that area still to be near Bridgewater would be Taunton, Minehead, Watchet going that way...Wells, Glasto, Cheddar, Street and Burnham on Sea not too far away.

What else is important to you? Do you want a decent mix of people? Seaside or fields? Corner shop?

Traffic round Bridgey gets pretty bad so you might want to live closer than 45 mins away iyswim.

[stressed0ut]

Porlock looks gorgeous, do you think the commute would be bad though? DH does a 1hr 20min motorway commute at the moment and we don't want anything like that anymore!
Things that are important to us are:

• Great local primary school (we ahve 1 child starting school this year and 2 more under 5)
  
• really nice village atmosphere, local shop and maybe pub (not too fussed about that though)
  
• village surrounded by beautiful countryside and fab walks
  
• don't need to be near the sea but being able to drive there farily easily would be good (I love rugged beaches, DH isn't fussed by the sea!)
  
• If i'm honest i'm abit of a location snob! So somewhere that's 'nice' is quite important
  
• access to a traditional town - with one off shops as opposed to chains would be nice
  
• within 45mins drive of a good sized bigger town like Taunton etc
  

Um think that's about it... oh a definitely not a place known to be good for drugs etc.
KarenG - your place is stunning!! I'd never go out if I lived there! How come you're selling? Our budget won't stretch quite that far unfortunately!! :)

[stressed0ut]

Kitsmummy, I hadn't thought of looking much that side of the M5 actually, but i'll do some research now. Thank you for your suggestions :)

[BikeRunSki]

My mum lives in Castle Cary, more of a small town than village, but lovely.

[kitsmummy]

Wedmore/Wells area does fit every criteria of yours so worth a look! And as Bikerunski says, Castle Cary is lovely too

[kitsmummy]

Oh yeah, and KarenG, your house is alright I guess, if you like that sort of thing

[KarenG]

Hi stressedOut, we are selling because we have another property and we want to consolidate to reduce risk - 2 large mortgages and only one income. Feeling precarious!

[stressed0ut]

KarenG - fair enough!! BTW sorry for being nosey! :)

[stressed0ut]

Anyone know the villages around the Quantocks area? :)

[CombineArvester]

Nether Stowey and Crowcombe are nice, Kilve lovely but road running through it...a lot of them are really small / quiet (Bicknoller, West Quantockshead / St Audries - although Bicknoller is really pretty). TBH they're all nice.

Not sure what 'traditional town' you would have access to....that area doesn't always subscribe to the 'oh you know its all independents on the high street dahling' thing...tbh many (including me) were fecking delighted when argos opened in Minehead . Sometimes if you live in the arse end of nowhere its nice to be able to buy the stuff everyone else can.

[Zimm]

I grew up in Catcott - great access to Bridgewater, Street and Glastonbury by road and actually has a reasonable bus service so older DC can get about independently - a rare plus in Somerset. Nice little shop and 2/3 pubs. Brilliant primary school which feeds into Crispin School Street which when I went there was a 'Beacon' school - basically I think this means it is really good. It is within 45 mins of Taunton, in fact the bus goes there also. Only 10 minutes to Street, 15 to Glastonbury and about 20 to Wells. The othe rpolden villages along the A39 are excellent also - Shapwick, Chilten Polden and edington.