Visitors' guide
Local links
Our village, Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, is a brisk 30-minute walk away from the market town of Wallingford. Further afield, Didcot has good rail links to London, and it's a short drive or train ride to Oxford, one of the most famous University towns in the world.
- Brightwell-cum-Sotwell's village web site
- The Red Lion is Brightwell-cum-Sotwell's last-remaining pub
- The Village Store is a local shop run for and by the villagers, featuring local produce
- OxTowns information on Wallingford
- More Wallingford information online
- Tourist info on the area
- Visit South Oxfordshire is a comprehensive guide run by the local district council
- Yet more local info
- An alternative guide to Wallingford
- OxTowns information on Didcot
- OpenGuides Wikipedia-style guide to Oxford has links to other guides
Places to stay
The Bach Centre is in the Sotwell half of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. There's just one pub - and plans for a shop - but it's possible to find places to stay as a few local people offer bed-and-breakfast accommodation. The following are within walking distance of the Bach Centre.
- Bob and Delia Howarth, Nunsacre, The Street, Brightwell cum Sotwell; telephone +44 (0)1491 836746; email bobanddeehowarth@btinternet.com
- No casual bed and breakfast here, but students attending a course at the Bach Centre can stay with Mrs Caroline Oakley, White Cottage, Brightwell cum Sotwell; telephone +44 (0)1491 837020; email carotrapp@poandco.co.uk
- Amanda Potter, The Manse, Bakers Lane, Brightwell cum Sotwell, Oxon OX10 0QA; telephone 01491 837225; email amanda.potter@live.co.uk
Further afield - between ten and twenty minutes by car - there are bed and breakfast places in Wallingford, Crowmarsh, Cholsey, South Stoke and Wittenham; and good hotels in Wallingford and Shillingford.
- In North Moreton, about ten minutes by car or taxi, stay at Stapleton's Chantry, Long Wittenham Road, North Moreton OX11 9AX, contact Maggie Parker 01235 818900 or email bedandbreakfast@stapletonschantry.co.uk
- Also in North Moreton is North Moreton House - voted the 12th best bed & breakfast in England by The Independent newspaper
- About the same distance away is self-contained accommodation with kitchen, wi-fi internet and flatscreen TV at The Barn at Haddon Acre
- And again, 10 minutes away by car is Little Gables B&B, 166 Crowmarsh Hill, Wallingford, OX10 8BG; telephone 01491 837834; email mail@littlegables.co.uk
- In the village of Long Wittenham, Witta’s Ham Cottage; telephone 01865 407686
- In Wallingford - useful for shops and restaurants and a brisk 45-minute walk from the Centre - stay at The Old School House in Castle Street; telephone 01491 839571
- Students can stay with Alison Lock BFRP who is also in Wallingford; telephone 01491 839229
- Catherine Stone in Wantage Road, Wallingford; telephone 01491 833019
- The George Hotel in Wallingford is a lovely place to stay for those on a bigger budget; telephone 01491 836665; email info@george-hotel-wallingford.com