General - 800 Words

Welcome to Somerset

The Jewel of the South West

A very warm welcome to this beautiful county of contrast! In Somerset you will find a wonderful mixture of countryside and coast - long sandy beaches and coastal resorts such as Weston-super-Mare, Minehead or Burnham-on-Sea contrast with the dramatic rocky Exmoor coastline. Inland, there are five ranges of hills to choose from (three of which are Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the Levels and Moors form a backdrop to Glastonbury Tor, centre of mystery and legend. The Levels are ideal for cycling enthusiasts and there are some beautiful leisure cycle routes - this area was once a marshy sea, but it is now drained by canals or rhynes out to the sea where miles of sandy beach make thousands of family holidays each year at Burnham-on-Sea, Berrow and Brean.

In South Somerset, warm honey-coloured Hamstone can be seen everywhere - it has been used for generations to build little towns and villages and also the Stately Houses with marvellous gardens, such as Montecute House and Barrington Court. Not far from Yeovil is Cadbury Castle, an impressive Iron Age hill fort alleged to be King Arthur's Camelot.

Glastonbury Abbey also lays claim to connections with 'the Once and Future King' as the monks claimed to have the bones of King Arthur and Gwynevere under the main alter - the ruins of the abbey are open all year and well worth a visit. Not far from Glastonbury is Wells, England's smallest city with a magnificent 13th century cathedral and a delightful market square (markets are still held each Wednesday and Saturday). The nearby caves at Wookey Hole and at Cheddar Gorge will transport you back to prehistoric times and the special lighting transforms the caves into dramatic and memorable attractions. Shopoholics and bargain hunters should be sure not to miss a trip to Clarks Village at Street - factory shopping on a grand scale with up to 50% off famous name brands.

In Taunton Vale lies Taunton - Somerset's county town, with shopping, entertainment and a famous castle, now the home of the Somerset County Museum where a recent hoard of Roman coins is on display. Further south, towards the Devon borders, the wooded length of the Blackdown Hills (AONB) are dominated by the town of Wellington with its monument to the Duke of Wellington (the Iron Duke) which can be seen for miles.

Exmoor National Park, the setting for Blakemore's 'Lorna Doone' is an extensive area of relatively wild open and unspoilt countryside - famous for the wild red deer and Exmoor ponies. Walkers and horse riders love Exmoor as the footpaths and bridleways are well maintained and signposted - for more information contact 01398 323841. Busy Minehead is Exmoor's seaside gateway - this is where Butlins is based, together with some lovely cottages and hotels, appealing to both families and those looking for a relaxing short break.

Nearer to the heart of Somerset are the wooded Brendon Hills with charming remote villages and the Quantocks - gentle hill walking country with quiet coombes reaching to the sea. The Quantocks have been designated as an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' which once inspired the English poets Wordsworth and Coleridge to produce some of their finest works. A recent film 'Pandemonium' looked at the relationship between these writers and included some wonderful photography of the area - showing just how little many parts of the county have changed!

Walkers can explore many parts of the county through the way-marked and part way-marked trails, including the recently developed Parrett Trail, which follows the river Parrett from its source near the South Somerset/Dorset boarder to where it meets the sea at Steart, opposite Burnham-on-Sea.

This is cider and cheese country with a tradition of providing excellent local produce. There are regular Farmers Markets throughout the county which give you the chance to buy direct from the supplier and the pubs, restaurants and cafes in Somerset will often be proud to use locally produced food and drink. There are several vineyards in Somerset, many of which are open to the public and a recently produced publication highlights many of the Cider and Apple juice producers - for a free copy contact Somerset Tourism (tel: 01823 355255).

Take a look at the new user-friendly website with thousands of pages of information on accommodation, attractions, events, a photo library plus much more - www.visitsomerset.co.uk

So for a real taste of the West Country and an ideal place to recharge the batteries, Somerset is a county easy to get to but hard to leave!

Fact File:

Excellent road and rail links, 2 hours from London or Birmingham
Tourist Information Centres throughout the county
Hundreds of attractions (many open all year)

For general information contact: -

Somerset Visitor Centre
Tel: 01934 750833
Email: somersetvisitorcentre@somerset.gov.uk