Places to visit

Animal Farm Adventure Park easily spend a day or half-day here. rare species. The constant (13.2 miles) underground temperature is ideal for maturing Cheese and you can still Berrow, Burnham on Sea, TA8 2RW Leisure Park (14.7 see this practice in operation. It is Tel: 01278 751628. www.animal- miles) also possible to see cheese being farm.co.uk Coast Road, Brean Sands, , made at the Gorge Cheddar Cheese

TA8 2QY; Tel: 01278 751517 complex and sample many of the This is a rare breeds farm with an all- www.brean.com excellent varieties. weather play barn, shop and café.

Established in 1984, the park is set in The fun fair at Brean Leisure Park The Cathedral-like Caves and 23 acres on the has over 40 rides and attractions Britain's biggest Gorge are the result behind including roundabouts, waltzers, of million year-old Ice Age river beds. Brean Sands, between the Mendips dodgems and roller coasters. The See the world famous Cheddar Man, and . shock wave super looper is the Britain’s oldest complete skeleton. largest roller coaster in the South- Bath (31.7 miles) west. There is also Canoe River, There are walks to enjoy, caves to Too much to describe here, but Laser Quest, Pony Adventure and explore, open top bus rides through always a highly enjoyable day out, Terror Castle. Also available is Brean the combining both sightseeing and Softplay and Splash Waterpark. gorge, cream teas and lots more. You shopping. We recommend the park- could try climbing Jacob’s Ladder - and-ride at the city outskirts – Butlins (30.9 miles) all 274 steps take you to a stunning www.visitbath.co.uk/travel-and- Warren Rd, Minehead TA24 5SH; Tel: 360° view of the surrounding area. To maps/bath-park-and-ride . 0330 100 6648 book a rock climbing session or to www.butlins.com/where-to-stay-dine- check availability please ring A must for first-time visitors are the and-play/our- Rocksport on 01934 742343 who will Roman baths: www.romanbaths.co.uk resorts/Minehead/index.aspx organize an adventure for you with all equipment supplied. Bishops Palace, Wells (17.2 Much updated with Splash Waterworld, Traditional Fairground, Churches miles) Live Shows, Art & Craft and Under section - Local Services and Wells BA5 2DP Character Events plus Bumper Boats. Facilities. www.bishopspalace.org.uk Bristol (39.8 miles) Coleridge Cottage (13.4 More than simply an historic house Another worthwhile day out miles) combining shopping and attractions. and garden, this splendid medieval 35 Lime Street, , palace has been the home of the TA5 1NQ; Tel: 01278 bishops of Bath and Wells for 800 Cheddar Caves and Gorge 732662 years. There are 14 acres of gardens (16.5 miles) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleridge- including the springs from which the Cheddar BS27 3QF; Tel: 01934 cottage city takes its name. Visitors can see 742343 www.cheddargorge.co.uk the Bishop's private Chapel, ruined In December 1796 the young Samuel Great Hall and the Gatehouse with A major tourist attraction for over 200 Taylor Coleridge moved into this little portcullis and drawbridge beside years, with plenty to do above and cottage in Nether Stowey with his wife which the mute swans ring a bell for below ground. An area of outstanding and infant son. In those days the food. If you take a picnic, you can natural beauty, where you'll find many cottage was much smaller, with a

Places to visit

thatched rather than tiled roof. The Under section - Local Services and with many beautiful gardens to visit. family lived at the cottage for three Facilities. www.somerset-life.co.uk/out- years and here Coleridge wrote some about/places/25-beautiful-somerset- of his finest poems including: Fears in Dunster Castle (29.2 miles) gardens-you-need-to-visit-1-4856079 Solitude, This Lime Tree Bower My Dunster, nr Minehead, Somerset Prison, The Nightingale, Frost at TA24 6SL; Tel: 01643 821314 (12.6 miles) Midnight, the first part of Christabel www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster- and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, castle Glastonbury is reputed to have had which contains references to the oldest Christian Church in neighbouring places. It was also An ancient National Trust castle with and has a long history as a where Coleridge began to set down fine interiors and subtropical gardens place of pilgrimage. The ‘White & Red the opium-inspired Kubla Khan which to be found in a dramatic hilltop Springs’ came to him in his sleep. location with sweeping views over are believed to have healing powers Exmoor and the ; set and have always attracted visitors. In In 1797 William Wordsworth and his in the picturesque village of Dunster. more recent years there has been a sister Dorothy came to live at revival of interest in Glastonbury as a Alfoxden and they often came over to The village itself is well worth a visit centre of alternative beliefs. The town Nether Stowey to visit Coleridge and where you will find many tea shops, has lots of interesting shops selling his family. Coleridge and Wordsworth restaurants and shops in which to books, charms, furniture, clothes and would often go on nocturnal walks browse. crystals. together, taking notebooks and camp stools. This rather eccentric (16.2 miles) (12.1 behaviour, together with the Deerleap, Hole, Wells BA5 miles) strangers’ northern accents and 1AY Dorothy Wordworth's darkcomplexion, The Abbey Gatehouse, Magdalene www.gps- St., Glastonbury BA6 9EL led to the rumour that they were routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/Routes French spies. The Home Office duly Tel: 01458 832267 LinksWalks/ebbor-gorge-walking- www.glastonburyabbey.com sent an investigator to Nether Stowey route but he was able to conclude that the The Abbey is set in 37 acres of poets were simply ‘harmless cranks’. Ebbor Gorge is now a nature reserve beautifully peaceful parkland in the protected by English Nature. It Centre of the ancient market town of In the nineteenth century the cottage includes three trails which wander was greatly altered and now only four Glastonbury. It is traditionally the first through the woodlands, one of them Christian sanctuary in Great Britain, rooms remain that existed in going up the gorge itself. Coleridge's day. visited, so legend has it, by Joseph of There are a few mounds at the top of Arimathea and Saints David and the gorge, and some of the caves in Today mementos of the poet are Patrick. the area were occupied by Neolithic displayed here including his massive people; it is easy to imagine ancient inkstand, locks of his hair and Many believe that the Holy Thorn tree people here. The view over mid- that can be seen in the grounds correspondence in his distinctive Somerset from the craggy rock at the handwriting. originated from Joseph of Arimathea’s top of the gorge path is inspiring. staff and others are convinced that

Clarks Village (9.9 miles) King Arthur was buried in the Abbey Located off the Wells to road, beside his lovely wife Queen Street, Nr Glastonbury BA16 0BB. just past . A car park is Guinevere. Whatever one believes www.clarksvillage.co.uk available. There are various grades of the facts are that the ruins are unique

walk and an all access route for the and the grounds provide a spot of Local designer outlet –plenty of retail disabled. peace and tranquillity in an otherwise therapy here! hectic world; and if the weather is

Gardens poor there is the new Visitor's Centre Craft Shops This part of the country is blessed

Places to visit

with award winning Museum which or a wonderful leisurely day out. Don't place for a cream tea, cold drinks, ice includes a model of the Abbey as it forget to visit their Bat Roost with its cream, sandwiches, light lunches and might have looked in 1539, together hi-tech viewing room! Just 5 miles especially homemade cake. with a display of the Town, a from Junction 25 of the M5 and 2.5 children’s display and the magnificent miles from Railways - follow Montacute House (24.3 16th century Cope. the brown daisy signs to Cheddon miles) Road and Cheddon Fitzpaine. This Montacute, Nr Yeovil, Somerset TA15 venue is dog friendly. (12.1 miles) 6XP; Tel: 01935 823289 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/glastonbury- www.nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute- tor Longleat (40.2 miles) house Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 7NW. Open all year and no admission Tel: 01985 844400 Owned by the National Trust, charge. Park and ride from the town www.longleat.co.uk Montacute House is one of the best centre of Glastonbury; Tel: 01985 preserved Elizabethan mansions in 843600 A bit further to drive but a wonderful Britain. It was built at the end of the day out; set within 900 acres of 16th century for Sir Edward Phelips; The Tor is a prominent hill overlooking Capability Brown landscaped he was a lawyer who became the Isle of Avalon, Glastonbury and parkland. Speaker of the House of Commons the Somerset Levels. This is one of and Master of the Rolls and in the trial Somerset’s most renowned Longleat House is widely regarded as of Guy Fawkes opened for the landmarks and the site of many one of the best examples of high prosecution. The symmetrical, H- legends and myths. It is reputed to Elizabethan architecture in Britain and shaped house was constructed of be King Arthur’s one of the most beautiful stately Ham Hill stone. The interior is as birthplace. There is a fantastic 360° homes open to the public. impressive as the exterior and has view from the summit of the Tor and many Renaissance features including renovated paths provide easier Longleat now encompasses a wide decorated ceilings, ornate fireplaces, access for the less ambulant. range of attractions to suit visitors of wood panelling and heraldic glass. all ages: Longleat Hedge Maze; Hestercombe Gardens (17.2 Safari Boats for a sea lion escorted Rich’s Farmhouse Cider (5.2 miles) cruise; Longleat Railway; Adventure Castle. miles) Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Mill House, Highbridge TA9 4RD; Tel: Somerset TA2 8LG; Tel: 01823 Maunsel Canal Centre (12.7 01278 794537 www.richscider.co.uk 413923 www.hestercombe.com miles) Cider has been produced at Rich’s Maunsel Lock, Banklands, Bridgwater Cider Farm for over 50 years. The Hestercombe is a unique collection of TA7 0DH production is still traditional. In the three gardens spanning three www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to- autumn the air is filled with the centuries of garden history and visit/maunsel-lock wonderfully heady aroma of crushed design. All have undergone acclaimed apples as the oak vats are filled with restoration works and today provide Visit the lock, stroll along the Canal Somerset’s ‘amber nectar’. important examples of gardens in follow the Somerset Space Walk - a contrasting styles that continue to true scale model of our Rich’s has always been a family grow and develop. The Formal with the ‘planets' strategically placed business. Jan took over the cider Gardens were designed by Sir Edwin along the towpath. The relative sizes farm when sadly Gordon passed Lutyens with informal planting by of the planets and the distances away in May 1998. With the help of Gertrude Jekyll. between them help us to identify with her husband Brian, cousin Martin the vast emptiness of space. Rich, Russell Salway and Jan’s Hestercombe offers a great sisters and their families the farm has destination for an exciting short stop Maunsel Lock Tea Shop is a great be brought up-to-date.

Places to visit

Located on the wooded slopes of streets with lanterns and where Rich's Cider offers farmhouse cider, Selworthy Combe, the village is laid possible candles in the houses. cider products, hampers, visits and out loosely round a long green and much more. The Cider Press climbs the hill to the 15th century Dunster by Candlelight (29.3 Restaurant is also available for meals church of All Saints. miles) throughout the day. Minehead TA24 5SF Selworthy’s Periwinkle Cottage Tea Tel: 01643 706355. Rooms provide wonderful cream teas. Secret World Wildlife www.dunsterbycandlelight.co.uk Alternatively Kitnor’s Tea Rooms at Rescue (5.4 miles) Bossington is excellent. Bossington New Road, East , Highbridge The first Friday and Saturday in which has attractive thatched TA9 3PZ Tel: 01278 783250 Decembers The streets are lit by cottages, is just half a mile from the www.secretworld.org candlelight; Lantern Lighting beach and is an excellent centre for Procession; stilt walkers, musicians, walking. Specialises in the rescue, entertainers and magicians. rehabilitation and eventual release of orphaned and injured wild creatures. Special events During both evenings there are a Each year approximately 3,000 wild variety of street entertainers who animals are cared for from the tiniest Cheddar Festive Night include Carol Singers, Morris harvest mice and bats to badgers, www.cheddarvillage.co.uk/festive- Dancers, Hand Bell Ringers, swans, foxes, deer and otters. It is night Entertainment in all three Streets that run entirely on donations and runs the are closed to traffic, Activity and only 24 hours wildlife rescue service Every year, a few weeks before Shows in the Tithe Barn and Choirs in in the South-west. Open on selected Christmas, the shops and cafes of the Parish Church and entertainment days only please see website. Cheddar open late one evening. It’s in The Castle. an ideal opportunity to buy unusual , Battle of gifts whilst enjoying the festive Bridgwater Guy Fawkes See below. atmosphere. The event is normally Carnival and Squibbing (5.1 held on the first Friday in December

from 6pm. No tickets are needed, just miles) Selworthy and Bossington turn up – parking locations will be Tel: 01278 421795 for information. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holnicote- displayed on this site nearer the date. www.bridgwatercarnival.org.uk estate A typical schedule involves a firework Held on the first Saturday in The charming village of Selworthy lies launch, choirs and bands dotted November Bridgwate’s annual Guy in the heart of the Holnicote estate in around the village, candlelit tours of Fawkes Carnival is renowned a magnificent setting on the northern the caves, with the Lower Gorge and country-wide for its annual Guy fringes of Exmoor on the A39 much of the village decked out with Fawkes Carnival which attracts between Minehead and Porlock. The Christmas trees and lights. There are 150,000 visitors. With over 100 estate of 12,420 acres is the National normally pig roasts at two or three of carnival floats some up to 100 feet Trust’s main property on Exmoor. Cheddar’s pubs, a market and a prize long itfollows a 2.5 mile route for 2 to draw. Santa usually puts in an 3 hours. This is followed by At first glance the cream-washed appearance too! Why not come in Squibbing which is something very stone, thatched cottages seem typical fancy dress, bring candles and unique to Bridgwater. Squibbing is by of many ancient settlements in this torches! definition the simultaneous firing of area. However, Selworthy was rebuilt lots of large fireworks (“squibs”). in 1828 by Sir Thomas Acland of Candlelight takes place every year on Many people come to Bridgwater just Killerton for the aged and infirm of the the first Friday and Saturday of to see the squibbing as it is an event Holnicote estate. He used traditional December when this remarkably that can be seen nowhere else on the designs and materials to create a preserved medieval village turns its planet. deliberately old-fashioned village. back on the present and lights its

Places to visit

In the region of 150 “Squibbers” are Somerset and our rich cultural Great Western Railway is full of involved, typically members of the diversity of talent from local fascination whether you are looking Carnival clubs. The Squibbers line the musicians, Somerset crafters, street for a nostalgic ride back in time Bridgwater High Street (in a line of theatre, aerial circus, family activities, through lovely countryside or to study two wide) and all light their squibs at attractions and an exciting array of the railway and industrial heritage that the same time. The effect is bright Outdoor Arts the line preserves. light being fired into the air along the road in one great long trail of fire. Wells (17.8 miles) The historic steam locomotives, www.visitwellssomerset.co.uk coaches and wagons, and the Bridgwater Quayside buildings of the ten unique stations Festival (5.1 miles) mid/end Wells is the smallest city in England, linked by a twenty-mile scenic journey will repay hours of exploration. July with its famous cathedral and school at the centre of the town. The area www.bridgwaterquaysidefestival.uk around the cathedral is one of the On route you can see: the gently largest medieval ecclesiastical rolling ; distant Exmoor; The Quayside Festival is Bridgwater’s precincts. The cathedral is a must unspoilt villages and farms; the cliffs free outdoor summer festival in and with its famous ‘scissor’ arches and and coast of the Bristol Channel with around Bridgwater. The festival medieval clock with figures that joust views of distant South-Wales; church celebrates Bridgwater’s roots as an on the hour – purported to be the towers; Dunster Castle; and historic riverside port. oldest working clock in the world with Minehead's seaside charm. its original face. Next door is the It is a celebration of live music, indoor Bishops Palace (see separate entry Trains run throughout the year. Space and outdoor theatre, dance circus and above). is limited so booking ahead is acrobatics, film, carnival, aerial advised. trapeze, puppetry with performances There are lots of old buildings to look from local and national artists and at as you wander around, including Westonzoyland (7.3 miles) free workshops to suit all the family. the tithe barn and 15th century parish Westonzoyland Pumping Station Enjoy food and drink from local church. Somerset cheese is made Museum www.wzlet.org producers and local art and craft and sold locally. stalls. This village on the Somerset Levels,

A lively market is held on Wednesday a few miles from Bridgwater, is close Bridgwater Fair (5.1 miles) and Saturday mornings where all to the site of the Battle of Sedgemoor, sorts of local delicacies may be which was fought on 6th July 1685 Bridgwater Fair originated in 1249 as purchased. The air is filled with the between the troops of the Rebel a horse and cattle fair and is now held smell of fresh bread and sizzling James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, annually for four days beginning on sausages cooked by the award- and James II of England. It was an the last Wednesday of September. winning butcher who fries them in the attempt to seize the English throne, The fair takes place on St Matthew's biggest pan you have ever seen. the ‘Monmouth Rebellion’ - James II Field, known locally as the Fair Field There are lots of organic vegetables had succeeded to the throne on the and is ranked as the second largest in and homemade cakes. death of his brother Charles II; James England after the Nottingham Goose Scott was Charles’ illegitimate son. Fair. Leading up to the Fair is a large West Somerset Steam street market selling an assortment of Railway (31.1 miles) After landing from the Netherlands at goods. Minehead Station, Warren Rd, Lyme Regis in , the Duke eventually led his untrained and ill- Somerfest (17.8 miles) Mid Somerset, Minehead TA24 5BG Tel: 01643 704996 www.west-somerset- equipped troops on a night-time

July railway.co.uk attack on the King’s position on the Taunton. www.somerfest.net site of Bussex Farm outside the village of Westonzoyland. The Bishops Lydeard to Minehead – this Somerfest is all about celebrating genuine country branch line of the old element of surprise was lost when a

Places to visit

musket was accidentally discharged, available to see first-hand, from withy and the Battle of Sedgemoor resulted bed to basket, this most traditional in defeat for the Duke by the royal and unique Somerset industry and army under Lord Churchill and Lord craft. Feversham. Monmouth escaped the battlefield, but was captured near Ringwood, Hampshire. He was taken (17.4 to the Tower of London in London miles) where he was, after several blows of The Mill, High St, Wookey Hole, Wells the axe, finally beheaded. BA5 1BB

Tel: 01749 672243 It is said that other rebels were www.wookey.co.uk hanged from a huge tree that used to stand just outside Cossington Park. The UK’s largest show caves system The tree gave its name to Great Tree and home to the infamous Witch of Farm, the entrance to which lies Wookey. Wander through the opposite. A concrete plinth marks the prehistoric Valley Of The spot at the junction of Bell Lane and and enter the 19th Century Paper Middle Road. Mill, which houses a variety of

fascinating attractions including the Westonzoyland is also home to Victorian Penny Arcades, Magical Somerset's earliest steam-powered Mirror Maze, museums and soft play pumping station. Built in 1830, this areas. Round the day off with a game how houses a small museum of Pirate Crazy Golf – all attractions displaying stationary steam engines included in your ticket! and exhibits of land drainage history.

Pride of place goes to the station’s pumping engine, the Easton and Amos. Small snack bar.

Willows and Wetlands Visitor Centre (12.9 miles) Meare Green Court, Stoke St Gregory, Taunton TA3 6HY. Tel: 01823 490249 www.englishwillowbaskets.co.uk

A family run business established in 1819, based on the unique Somerset levels, growing and supplying willow and producing high quality handcrafted willow products such as baskets, furniture, garden accessories, artists’ charcoal etc.

The visitor centre has exhibitions, displays, a museum with unusual artefacts and walks onto the levels to experience the landscape and environment. Guided tours are also