Somerset towns and cities are boldly unique and quintessentially English.
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From chocolate box country villages complete with thatched cottages and ancient bridges to towns whose listed buildings reflect their importance to generations stretching back to the days of the Domesday, Somerset’s varied settlements have plenty to detain the visitor. Over the centuries, Somerset has had several County towns:
Ilchester,
Somerton and finally
Taunton – all of which have secrets to share about their colourful pasts. We also have Victorian seaside resorts resplendent with piers, such as
Weston-Super-Mare, medieval villages with market squares and towns alive with legend and literary links. In the Vale of Taunton, as well as the County Town, we have
Wellington with its connection to the Iron Duke and
Milverton, with its attractive Georgian thoroughfare, North Street. Villages in the vale include
Bradford-on-Tone and
Corfe.
East Somerset is focused on the town of
Frome, highlighted as one the Times ‘Best Places to Live in Britain’ packed with historic buildings and independent shops. The area also boasts
Bruton and
Wincanton as well as the villages of
Castle Cary and
Nunney.
Towns of the Mendips include medieval
Axbridge and
Shepton Mallet while the villages have
Cheddar and
Rodney Stoke among their number and they are brim full of history and interest.
The Somerset Levels is one of the most important wetland areas in England and water has played a significant part on the fortunes of its principal towns such as
Bridgwater,
Glastonbury and
Langport. Criss-crossed with itches, it is also dotted with charming villages –
Cannington, Muchelney and
North Curry – to name a few.
There is only one town in The Quantocks but what a town –
Watchet is awash with echoes of the past. Numerous villages bask in their beautiful settings here:
Aisholt, Bicknoller, Crowcombe, Nether Stowey and
Stogursey.
Exmoor, our last wilderness, is tamed by a handful of towns such as
Dulverton and
Dunster and blessed with delightful villages including
Porlock Weir,
Selworthy and
Old Cleeve, with its superb Abbey.
The honeycomb coloured stone from which its great houses and cute cottages are built typifies South Somerset. Its best-known towns are
Yeovil and
Crewkerne while it has far too many attractive villages to mention, although perhaps
Montacute and
Barrington with their fabulous Country Houses stand out.