Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Lynchetts hotel in Bath

a splendid Georgian house, a grade II listed building. Period features are found everywhere, from fire places to window shutters, from beautiful varnished floorboards that sag and creak to the oak beams across the low ceilings.

Our bedroom is delightful, roomy but with low ceilings and oak beams. Tastefully decorated in shades of light blue and greys with old trunks and antique furniture and chairs. Accessed down a small staircase it is cozy. The eiderdown is thick and snuggly, the throw cover a glorious chintzy embroidery. Bath towels were huge and soft.

The downstairs lounge has a lovely ambiance. A roaring log basket log fire, lovely rugs across deep honey brown wooden floors. Bookshelves with an eclectic mix of books. A piano sits in a curved arch like alcove. There are recessed arch shelves either side of the substantial wooden fireplace and mantle. Table lamps cast a warm glow and an old fashioned table clock ticks loudly in one corner, it's rhythmic beat slowly fading into the distance as your brain switches off and you relax in the deep Chesterfield winged sofas.

We were served breakfast in our own little breakfast room a few footsteps away from our room. A range of home made marmalades, honey  and jams made by the proprietor. They even keep their own bees in the garden out back.

And out of the front garden gate, Bradford On Avon is a mere fifty metres down the road. The cycle route along the towpath around 400m. Eight miles to Bath along a flat, well made trail, the route is delightful. You pass the permanent barges tied up at various wharfs with their liveaboards. Barge roofs are adorned with bikes, pot pants, bags of coal for stoves, assorted junk and scrap. Some are decorated, others look worst for wear. Occasionally the slow deep putt putt of a Diesel engine as a barge passes by, at just other walking speed and with barely a wake.

Today was one of those crisp winter sun days when there was little wind and the puddles remained iced over for much of the day. Bike tyres crunched through the iced surfaces with a satisfying crackle. Shadows were long as the winter sun slowly rose and breath froze in front of you. Everything was crisp and still and colourful. After so much rain and wind, this cycle trip was a joy and welcome relief. The canal contours the hills halfway up the side of a stunning valley......of open fields and gambolling lambs. The views across Bath rooftops as you approach the last wharves are riveting.

This has been a much needed and welcome short break. It has been a tough term albeit a short one. Next term is going to be intense. Lynchetts bought a welcome respite. The hospitality was extraordinary. Nothing was too  much trouble. warm fires were lit in lounges, freshly brewed tea in our room on arrival. Leaflets about cycle routes found and loaned to us. Radio 3 in our breakfast room. Hospitality was generous and gentile.

We will definitely stay at Lynchetts again and it is rare that i ever go back to the same place twice. 

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Steve