One of the big local success stories in Somerset is Thatchers Cider. A family run affair they seem to have caught the wave of revitalised interest in cider as a refreshing and natural drink and are now very visible across the UK and increasingly abroad. Their HQ is just a few miles from us at Sandford, and if you come here and cycle the Strawberry Line towards Yatton you will pass right through their orchards (they helpfully allows a permissive path to join up a break in the railway line). Just up from the cycle path is their small but friendly shop selling all their wide range of ciders, barrel and bottle, and a lovely range of local produce like jams and chutneys.
Also here was an old and sad pub - the Railway Inn - which Thatchers bought and decided to seriously revamp as their "cider house tap". The beautifully restored and extended pub has finally - with much anticipation - open in the last few weeks and we were quickly there to check it out. And it is quite wonderful. Of course there is a wide range of ciders on tap and in bottles. But good ales, fine wine and quality soft drinks too. The interiors with lots of oak framing is airy and finished with lots of detail, and different areas have very different feel including a comfy sofas and armchairs area, and proper dining room, and a wonderful terrace which joins up with a grassy lawn with deck chairs out for those wanting to sit and soak up some sun with their apple-y brew.
Instantly popular we'd certainly recommend it if you're staying here. Oh - and quite fittingly the entrance porch is thatched! Check it out here: Thatcher's Railway Inn, Cider House and Kitchen.

Most people have heard of Glastonbury Festival. it doesn't actually take place in Glastonbury but just outside the nearby village of Pilton at Worthy Farm. In recent years the organiser of the big festival has also worked to do stuff for the community: the Pilton Party and the Glastonbury Extravaganza. The latter takes place every year in the wonderful grounds of the ruined abbey in the centre of Glastonbury. A rather genteel affair with many of the few  thousands of people who come bringing the full picnic gear: tables, deckchairs, hampers, wine, glasses. All quite extraordinary. For more ordinary folk like us a small rucksack of goodies and a blanket are good enough.

This year we got tickets to see veteran rocker Ray Davies, lead and song writer with the 60/70's band The Kinks. With a few good support acts he came on with a very sharp band to give a great performance with lots of subtle humour. He's getting on but the songs stand the test of time and the band did it all justice. All this and it generates lots of local charities.

The extravangaza happens every year - it is only 12 miles from Cheddar across the levels and we'd recommend it to anyone.

We went on holiday - 10 miles away in Glastonbury. Sounds a bit odd but we were booked to go to the Glastonbury Extravaganza (see separate post) and rather do the obvious thing of going there and back in an afternoon and late evening, Mary had the great idea to make a weekend of it. We packed our veteran VW camper van, loaded the bikes and hove too at a camp ground just on the edge of Glastonbury. The bikes were there because we have been wanting to do a particular ride for a long time. Following the disused railway track from Glastonbury across the levels towards Burnham this path runs through a sequence of glorious nature reserves: Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath: collectively known as the Avalon Marshes and managed variously by the RSPB, Natural England and Somerset Wildlife Trust. And it is tranquil, varied and beautiful with lots and lots of birdlife, bug-life and vegetation. Highly recommend to any who would like to walk (two wheels are not required) or cycle on well marked largely off-road and a good gravel surface. We even saw an adder snake perfectly still on the path. We thought it was dead, we were worried we run it over. But a poke of a stick and it slithered away back in to the undergrowth.
We completed the ride by looping back through Westhay village, and on past more reserves at Westhay Moor, and to Godney with the fabulous Sheppey Inn gastro-pub for a well earned beer beside the stream at the back.

As happens great little businesses come and go (don't worry we're certainly here to stay). But especially on the cafe/pub/restaurant front we keep getting delighted by new arrivals and saddened by old favourites shutting up shop.

Relatively new happenings are the Yeo Valley Canteen in Blagdon, the amazing new arthouse cafe in Cheddar (Cafe Sketch), a new cafe in the gorge (Cafe Gorge) and the refurbished Bath Arms gastro-pub in the village. Further afield the now fairly well established Sheppey Inn is doing well (need to book almost always). And there are new places to explore: the Wheatsheaf Inn in Stone Allerton was closed but new owners have set up a top notch smokery and have now re-opened the pub. And Thatchers (the local cider makers) have lovingly restored and refurbished the Railway Inn in Sandford and we're checking that out this weekend (ideally it is just by Strawberry Line so a perfect cycle destination).

But sadly some places have closed: The Sitting Room cafe in Cheddar run by two lovely ladies and completely vegetarian. Also vegetarian and closed after a very long run is Cafe Galatea in Glastonbury, and in Wells the fantastic up-market Old Spot restaurant has also closed. In Cheddar the old Kings Head pub has closed but we hope new owners may come and revitalise it.