Trips and Activities

Below are some ways that you might like to spend your time during your stay with us. You can also visit the Stroud District Toursim Pages to find out what events are on during your stay.

Thistledown

Thistledown has lots of paths and information boards for you to explore and learn about the farm and environment. You can sometimes join us at feeding time (usually daily, times vary) to help feed the pigs, goats and sheep. We have recently set up a simple badger watching hide so that you can (quietly!) watch the badgers, which come out after dark to feed. Despite being close to the towns of Nailsworth and Stroud, the immediate area does not have much light pollution, so star gazing can be great on a clear night. Meteor showers are often stunning; this Meteor Calendar will show you whether there is anything to look out for during your stay. We believe that camping isn’t complete without a campfire, and cooking over one is a fun and delicious way to spend your time!

Local Area

There are lovely walks from Thistledown, and we have created a walking map to help you explore the area – please ask for one on arrival. We share a boundary to the North (down into the valley) with Woodchester Park. The woodland is managed by the National Trust and there is a box for donations at their car park on the road to Stroud. You can access Woodchester Park by walking down towards our pump house in the North West corner of the farm (or the top left as you look at the map!). There are plenty of paths and four large lakes at the bottom of the valley. Woodchester Mansion is along the valley to the West, about 40 minutes’ walk from the farm. The local pub, The Rose & Crown is 15 minutes’ walk down Tinkley lane – please use a torch and bright clothing at night.

Longer walks through Woodchester Park can take you to the pubs at Woodchester, or you can walk down into Nailsworth or Uley. If you aren’t keen on the walk then Nailsworth is a 5 minute drive and offers plenty of shopping options, including a Farmers’ Market every fourth Saturday of the month, lovely restaurants and a couple of pubs. The multi-award winning Stroud Farmers’ Market is 10 minutes’ drive (every Saturday) and offers a great selection of local food and crafts.

To get an aerial view of the farm and surrounding area you can take to the skies at Bristol and Gloucester Gliding Club, which is less than 10 minutes’ drive.

Further Afield

Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is 20 minutes’ drive and offers a great day family day out. Westonbirt Arboretum is less than 30 minutes’ drive and has a spectacular collection of trees. If you fancy something a bit more adventurous then Cotswold Waterpark has a selection of activities, from fishing to waterskiing, and is around 35 minutes’ drive. We are about 30 minutes’ drive from the River Severn, which has the second largest tidal bore in the world! For more information on when and where to see it please visit Severn Bore.

The cities of Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester are all within one hour’s drive of Thistledown.