Our Introduction to Somerset

In keeping with its South West neighbours Somerset is a county of both great beauty and great diversity.  First time visitors always get a wonderful surprise when they see the gorgeous coastline as it is often overlooked compared to Devon and Cornwall.  Combine this with the beautiful countryside and picturesque villages and you have a county that has a hidden gem to discover at every time.

Holidaying in Somerset gives you the best of both worlds in terms of coast and country and exploring the area is a must. Whether you are beach lover, culture vulture, adrenaline junkie or just looking for somewhere to kick back and recharge those batteries you will find it all here. To give you a better idea of specific areas of interest we have listed a few key areas that are absolute must sees.

The West Somerset Coast Path

Much renovation work in recent years has transformed the West Somerset into something very special.  The path starts in the hamlet of Steart and travels along the coast to the resort of Minehead. The path passes through the Quantock Hills area which has been designated an AONB; Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The entire coast path stretches for 25 years and the beauty is that you can start and stop wherever you like along the way.  There are several circular walks which adjoin the main path and these give you easy access to such towns and villages as Kilve, Williton, West Quantoxhead, Dunster, Watchet and Blue Anchor. These all boast shops, cafes, pubs, B&B’s, restaurants and hotels so you use one of these as a base if you choose.

Clarks Village

This designer outlet complex is considered to be one of the best in the area and no self respecting fashionista will want to miss out on this during their trip to Somerset.  Unlike other outlet centres Clarks Village is set in attractive landscaped surroundings and there is a host of entertainment activities available as well as the chance to grab some great bargains. With more than 90 factory shops, a shoe museum, children’s play areas, picnic areas and restaurants there is something here for everybody and you can easily spend a whole day here no problem at all.

Wookey Hole

This unique attraction has grown over the years so now you not only get to visit the famous caves themselves but there is plenty more on offer too. The legend of the Witch of Wookey has now been elaborated on and the many attractions here include the Witch’s Kitchen, the Witch’s Parlour, Hyenas Den and you can even meet the Wookey Witch herself at weekends and during school holidays.  There is even a hotel here if you want to stay here for a couple of nights and have a wonderful and wacky time at Wookey Hole.

Conygar Tower and Wood

The name Conygar is derived from the words  ‘coney’ meaning rabbit and ‘garth’ meaning garden. The tower sitting in the wood was commissioned in 1775 and is another area of Somerset that possess great natural beauty.  Sitting on the Dunster Estate the circular tower is one of its most prominent features. The 3 storey folly was originally built as a landmark for shipping and is now preserved as a Grade ll listed building.

Don’t hang about and visit Somerset for yourself!