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9th September 2005
LOVE BATH
TEN TOP PLACES TO PROPOSE IN BATH
Bath has such strong romantic connections that it is becoming ever more popular for proposals. Summer 2005 has witnessed a surprise proposal in the Pump Rooms where the music stopped, red roses and a ring were produced and the young man from Sussex got down on one knee to propose to his Californian girlfriend. The Tourist Information Centre receives so many enquiries that they now publish a list of suggested places to propose on the website, www.visitbath.co.uk. This list is also designed for anyone who would like to go somewhere really special with their loved one during their stay in Bath or the surrounding area.
ON THE TERRACE AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM
The American Museum in Bath overlooks the Limpley Stoke Valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Sitting on the terrace, sipping tea and savouring the superb view will melt any woman's heart. The Museum houses an extraordinary collection of decorative arts which tell the story
of life in America from colonial times until the end of the nineteenth century. The collection was amassed by Dallas Pratt and John Judkin whose romantic notion was that they should foster relations between the two countries by building a collection to demonstrate the evolution of
American craft and culture.
UP, UP AND AWAY
Hot air balloons take off throughout the summer months from Royal Victoria Park and glide gracefully over the honey coloured stone buildings of Georgian Bath. Bailey Balloons take off from Royal Victoria Park and glide gracefully over the rooftops of the Royal Crescent and the Circus before drifting out to the surrounding countryside. With a bottle of champagne on board to toast your future together, what could be more romantic?
ON THE PALLADIAN BRIDGE AT PRIOR PARK LANDSCAPE GARDENS
Created by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ralph Allen to complement his magnificent mansion on the Bath skyline, these Eighteenth century landscaped gardens are set in a sweeping valley with panoramic views across the city. Laid out by Capability Brown the gardens include a Palladian bridge and a series of lakes. The bridge bears evidence of lovers past who have carved their initials in the stonework which has been preserved as part of the charm of this special place although graffiti is discouraged today.
THE PETO GARDENS AT IFORD MANOR
Iford Manor, which dates from medieval times, sits in an idyllic spot in the steep sided valley of the River Frome. The gardens are famous for their tranquil beauty set into the hillside with romantic views of the nearby countryside. In 1899 Harold Peto, architect and landscape gardener, discovered this magical place and set about transforming the gardens. They made the perfect showcase for the Italian, French and Spanish artefacts he had collected on his travels around Europe. His skill was in combining architecture and planting with a passion for Italian garden design. Today the gardens are open to visitors in the summer months (but check first for opening times) and the Iford Festival brings opera to this romantic setting. The Peto Garden at Iford won the Historic Houses Association/Christie's Garden of the Year Award.
ABOARD THE LADY SOPHINA, AN ELEGANT RIVER LAUNCH ON THE KENNET AND AVON CANAL
The Royal Crescent Hotel operates a magnificent river launch, the "Lady Sophina" on the Kennet and Avon canal. The canal winds through the Limpley Stoke Valley, designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. Throughout the summer months the launch is available for private charter. The 1923 mahogany river launch is immaculately presented with its original brass fittings in tact. What could be more romantic than a champagne cruise as dusk falls on this tranquil backwater? A two-hour champagne cruise costs £45 per person and the launch can also be chartered for a leisurely cream tea.
AFTERNOON TEA IN THE PUMP ROOM
If music be the food of love.......Afternoon tea in the Pump Room transports visitors back to an era of elegance and social intrigue. Even today it is a genteel meeting place where visitors can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea accompanied by the Pump Room trio.
The Pump Room played a pivotal part in Georgian Bath. Mentioned on several occasions in Jane Austen's novels, this was the place to see and be seen. People gathered here to take the waters and to register as new visitors, to converse and socialise and to parade their fashionable clothes. Today the "pumper" is still on hand to dispense the Bath spa water which contains 43 minerals and has its own distinctive flavour. One glass is sufficient for most people today but in the Eighteenth century, when the waters became famous for their therapeutic properties, two litres or more was recommended for daily consumption.
The Grand Pump Room, its predecessor, was completed in 1795 as an elegant salon with a 10 metre ceiling. Some surviving relics of the original Pump Room include a statue of Beau Nash who, as Master of Ceremonies, set out the code of conduct for acceptable behaviour at the time when Bath was in its heyday in the Eighteenth Century.
THE BOTANICAL GARDENS IN THE ROYAL VICTORIA PARK
Royal Victoria Park occupies 46 acres and was opened by the young Princess Victoria in 1830 providing shady promenades and grand carriage drives and is as popular with today's visitors for walking and cycling as its was with their Victorian counterparts. The charming Botanical Gardens with its intricate maze of paths was established in 1887 and showcases many rare specimens collected from around the world. Here there are private benches and quiet bridges, ideal for lovers to meet.
WALKING AROUND BATH - THE BATH SKYLINE
The National Trust publish a six mile circular walk around the Bath Skyline including meadows and ancient woodlands, an Iron Age Hill Fort and Roman settlements as well as magnificent panoramas of the Georgian city of Bath. There are places to pause to savour the view or for a picnic and plenty of points of interest such as " Sham Castle" commissioned by Ralph Allen in the Eighteenth Century to improve the view from his town residence.
The National Trust owns and manages nearly 500 acres of the skyline to the south-east of Bath. This was acquired through a donation by the Mallet family in 1959 and subsequent appeals and grants by Bath City Council and the Countryside Commission. A diversion from the walk leads to Prior Park Landscaped Gardens, a beautiful eighteenth century landscaped garden created by Capability Brown for Bath philanthropist Ralph Allen.
The Bath Skyline Walk is clearly marked with way mark signs. A leaflet about the walk and map are available at the Bath Tourist Information Centre near the Abbey. The best place to start the walk is near the Cats & Dogs Home, next to Bath University which can be reached by bus from the centre of town.
ON A BICYCLE MADE FOR TWO
History on your Handlebars offers more than the usual bike hire service. They open the door for visitors to explore some of the most beautiful countryside in Wiltshire, providing interesting information about the villages and historic sites on carefully researched routes. Hire a tandem and they could even deliver a picnic to the perfect proposal place en route for you.
TAKE YOUR PRINCESS UP A TOWER
Built purely as a folly by a wealthy eccentric, Beckford's Tower is a 120 foot tall neo-classical tower completed in 1827. William Beckford would canter up from his house in Lansdown Terrace to retreat for some "quiet time" surrounded by his fabulous collection or art and rare books. As a wealthy and accomplished individual, he was able to indulge his passion for the finer things in life. Today, we can follow in his footsteps up the spiral staircase to the beautifully restored Belvedere and enjoy uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside. You can even hire it for your sole use to pop the question if you a little privacy is what you want.
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Notes to Editors:
1. For further information please contact Nicky Hancock on 01225 332299 or mobile 07956 594113 or by e-mail at nicky@hancockcomm.com or Fiona Humphreys at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477228 or by email on: fiona_humphreys@bathtourism.co.uk
2. Bath Tourism Plus
Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, began trading on 1st October 2003, taking over the management of tourism promotion from Bath & North East Somerset Council and in the process, establishing a ground-breaking partnership between the public and private sector.
Working with the public and private sectors Bath Tourism Plus takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation's top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath's official tourism internet site www.visitbath.co.uk. Its primary objective is to optimise the value of tourism for members and partners.
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