After a quiet night in the pub car park we are off further south to Wells, the smallest city in England. This is the second time we’ve tried to visit as we had an abortive attempt back in 2020 but couldn’t find anywhere to park. Fingers crossed for today, hopefully one of the three places I have in my park4night favourites will work out.

The journey takes us through Bristol which is unexpected and we arrive in Wells around lunchtime. The first two parking spots are just too tight and too busy but the third is good. We are parked up on a wide road which is good for daytime parking only so before we head out to explore we find a spot to overnight just half an hour up the road.

The cathedral and school buildings on our route are mostly made of a locally sourced lovely pale brown Jurassic limestone called Doulting stone.

As we get close to the cathedral T notices on our left an incredible street called Vicars’ Close built in the 14th century. This is a medieval cul-de-sac reputedly the oldest intact residential street in Europe and it’s gorgeous with its impressive chimneys standing sentry over the houses. It’s actually connected to the cathedral with a passageway built over Chain Gate.

The cathedral wants £16 each but allows free entry for prayer so we nake a small donation, light a couple of candles in the Lady’s Chapel and then have a quick look on the way out.

Onto the pretty High Street with its medieval buildings and many hanging baskets and containers full of flowers. We enjoy a pint sitting outside in the sunshine. T gets excited at the sight of The Crown At Wells Pub which was featured in the movie Hot Fuzz.

Finally we wander into the grounds of the Bishop’s Palace, which is walled with a moat and lovely gardens. We enjoy walking around it, admiring the two swans and six almost adult size cygnets swimming serenely in the moat.

Our overnight stop is a spot literally just off the A361 on the Somerset Levels next to the King’s Sedgemoor Drain and Sluice, an artificial river used to drain the moors built back in the late 18th century. There’s a couple of small vans already here and someone fishing. Plenty of room for us too.

After a cuppa and some r&r time we decide to walk up to the Greylake nature reserve 200yds up the road. We wander around its hides and pathways through reed beds and bull rushes and see absolutely nothing except butterflies and swans. According to its website the best time to visit is Spring or Winter. However we get a few extra steps in which is always good.

Dinner in the van with some telly.

A varied and really enjoyable day.

05:08:25