For a thoroughly wholesome couple of hours, I’d recommend heading across to Bath city farm. Unlike most other farm attractions, this one is free to visit (although a donation of £2 is encouraged – a snip given it costs £8000 a day to keep the farm running). The farm is tucked away in Twerton on the outskirts of Bath (Wells side), with panoramic views across the city but feeling a million miles away from the hustle and bustle.

Head over on a Tuesday morning and join the Roots and Shoots toddler group (10-11:30am). Aimed at under 5’s, it encourages children (and their grown-ups) to explore the farm and feed the animals. We got to meet the chickens, ducks, pygmy goats, pigs and sheep and hear a little about what their life is like at the farm, before heading back to the cafe area for a hot drink (adults), a multitude of snacks (kids) and storytime (everyone who could sit still and listen). I’m told that there are often additional activities laid on too like bug hunts and crafts, but we were there on a particularly busy day so there wasn’t much time for anything extra. The group is a bargain considering refreshments are included – £3.50 for 1 child, £4.50 for 2 or £6 for 3.

While the group was lovely, and a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday morning, I would recommend going on your own too for a visit. You can wander around the farm at a pace that suits you, and, while you can’t feed all of the animals, you can buy chicken feed from the cafe kiosk, head into the chicken and duck enclosure and enjoy having them flock around you quacking and clucking. Personally, this is our favourite bit of the farm. As well as the animals, there’s a little cafe kiosk where you can buy hot drinks and small bites – there are picnic benches too if you bring your own food; there’s a well-equipped park; and there are two mile long walking trails – a history trail, which features a replica WWII air raid shelter and a nature trail, which takes you through the woodlands. Neither route is prammable so you’ll need a sling for very little ones. Given the site sits on the side of a hill, there are some steep bits too.

IN A NUTSHELL

A brilliant place to while away a couple of hours. Tag a visit on to a day out in Bath, or head there in the morning and stop off at Newton farm shop for lunch on your way back; it’s just down the hill from Twerton (on the way to the globe roundabout).

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