Somerset Beano, Mon 5th - Fri 9th May 2025
New VENUE!
Myths, legends and natural beauty in the fabled Isle of Avalon
After a few years’ break we’re heading back to the rural delights of Somerset, based at a new venue nestled at the foot of the legendary Glastonbury Tor itself.
This area is the mystical ‘Isle of Avalon’, steeped in myth and legend. The flat expanse of the Levels is punctuated by domed hills looking for all the world like islands in the sea – which, a few millennia ago, they were. Was King Arthur’s Camelot here? Did Jesus really travel here as a young man, in the company of Joseph of Arimathaea? Do beams of energy radiate out from Glastonbury along ancient ley lines (including two through the place where we stay)? We don’t know, but we know you’ll find locals willing to persuade you it’s all true.
This is a lovely part of the country to explore by bike, with flat meadows crossed by quiet lanes. The occasional hill climb nearly always rewards you with a view at the top.
Our rides take us through the farms and flat roads of the Somerset Levels, through scattered villages and the tiny cathedral city of Wells. We ascend the Mendip Hills for breathtaking views to the sea. We ride through a landscape of moors and commons, rivers and channels, ruined abbeys and historic market towns.
To the west we cycle through the Avalon marshes, along an old railway line through a nature reserve and along twisting lanes, spotting the remains of lake villages and trackways that date back thousands of years. The Levels are rich in wildflowers, amphibians and wildfowl: we may spot bitterns, hobbies, kingfishers and more – not forgetting the famous bell-ringing swans of Wells!
Our base is Middlewick Farm, a cluster of converted barns and cottages just outside the town of Glastonbury, nestled beneath the famous Glastonbury Tor. Vegetarian catering is provided by the chef at the onsite restaurant, while we relax in the lounge and the gardens, or perhaps take a post-ride dip in the indoor pool.
This is a weekday Beano: we arrive for tea on Monday afternoon and leave after breakfast on Friday morning. In between we have three all-day rides on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, exploring the area by bike and returning to our base at Middlewick at the end of each ride.
The rides are mainly on-road, with a few short sections on gravelled cyclepaths and easy bridleways. Daily distance is 30-40 miles, though we always build in detours and short cuts so you can make your ride longer or shorter. Some of the detours feature more offroad exploration along some of the “Droves”, ancient tracks that criss-cross the Levels.
As always, we provide you with Andy’s famous route maps, turn-by-turn route directions, route files for your GPS (if you have one), and a morning route talk where we tell you all about the things to look out for oduring the day. You can cycle at your own pace, in company with others if you like.
When
Monday 5th – Friday 9th May 2025
Arrive Monday evening. 4 night stay; 3 days of cycling; depart Friday morning.
The rides
Daily distances 30-40 miles (50-65km) with options up to 60 miles (100km). Ride at your own pace. Terrain is fairly easy, but some hills. Mainly on quiet country lanes with some optional easy offroad sections.
Availability
Somerset Beano currently has one room available: a single bedroom with shared bathroom facilities.
There is also one glamping pod available – contact us for more details on these.
If these options don’t suit you, contact us about going on the waiting list for other spaces.
If you would like to go on a waiting list, please contact us. We will let you know if a space becomes available.
Prices
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Single room (ensuite)£780Single room, ensuite shower/bathroom
(Sorry, fully booked) -
Sharing a twin/double room (ensuite)£680Ensuite shower room/bathroom. (If you're travelling solo but prepared to share a room let us know and we'll charge you the shared room rate even if you get a room to yourself.) Sorry, fully booked.
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Single room (shared bathroom)£660Single room, shared bathroom facilities
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Sharing a twin room (shared bathroom)£560Per person in a twin bed room; shared bathroom facilities. (If you're travelling solo but prepared to share a room let us know and we'll charge you the shared room rate even if you get a room to yourself.)
Prices are per person and include dinner, breakfast, and tea and cakes after the ride. They don’t include bike hire (most Beanoers bring their own bikes) or the cost of lunch/coffee stops during the rides.
