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If you're a Lord of the Rings nerd like me, you've always dreamed of being a hobbit. Well, truth be told, I always thought I was more elf but then I hit my late thirties and I realised eating a lot, gardening, and living in a cute little hobbit hole was more for me.
Given I'm trying to visit every county in the UK, staying in the Little Shire in Somerset made a lot of sense. Although I've driven through Somerset numerous times and have friends from there, I'd never actually stayed there! Also given I'm an author with books set in the Regency, visiting Bath was a must-have, so the chance to stay in an actual hobbit hole was a chance I couldn't pass up!
About half an hour from Bath, set in fields and behind a small bistro and a few other buildings is The Shire, comprised of three hobbit holes set beautifully under real grass mounds. We couldn't quite figure out where it was until we drove through a farm gate and discovered the hobbit holes, secretly tucked away.
With two bedrooms either end of the hole, two bathrooms, a lovely and fairly sizeable kitchen, and one sofa, it was perfect for four little (adult) hobbits. The kitchen was well-equipped with a nice sized breakfast bar so although this hole was hardly huge, it suited us perfectly for a short stay. The only bit that was a slight squeeze was the sofa but the bedrooms were comfortable and the bathrooms were clean and modern. Our hole came with a wood-fired hot tub. Usually, I'd leap at the chance for a simmer but given it was going to rain most of our stay, I didn't bother.
The best bit about this hobbit hole was the lovely brick and wood detailing inside, along with the requisite fairy lights, making you feel that surely you must really be staying in Hobbiton. The worst bit about our stay was my husband losing the remote control for the main TV for a day--driving me absolutely insane because there were only so many places it could be! Turned out, after a day of hunting and thinking we'd have to admit we'd lost it, that it was in his dressing gown pocket.
Reader, somehow I didn't throttle him. Maybe it was the peaceful Hobbiton air.
During our trip, we visited Cheddar Gorge, which I last visited when I was very young. It's as beautiful as ever but on some weekends, lots of bikers gather, and the noise was immense with a few of the locals grumbling about it. I would love to go back as the very dog friendly cafes and shops there are wonderful as is the drive through, but I'd definitely recommend a week day visit.
We finished our trip with a lovely day out in Bath. I recommend getting there earlier on in the day, though unlike many touristy towns, even by lunch, it wasn't overrun. The gorgeous Regency architecture is really like nothing else and everything it very walkable. Our final stop was Wells, most famous probably, for being used in the filming of Hot Fuzz. It's a fab town with the most beautiful cathedral and a castle and well worth stopping by for an afternoon.
If you're lusting after the Hobbit life and a great base for exploring Cheddar Gorge and Bath, then this is a comfortable, unique stay that you won't regret booking.
Book The Little Shire here.
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