West Somerset

West of the county its wonderfully diverse!

One of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of the west side of the County must be the marvellous West Somerset Railway – the longest heritage railway in England. You can ride from just outside Taunton all the way to Minehead passing immaculately maintained stations, signal boxes, a castle and a harbour. The countryside is sumptuous and it is easy to see how it inspired some of this Country’s greatest poets.
It was while Coleridge was living at Nether Stowey that he and his friends Dorothy and William Wordsworth took frequent walks in the Quantock Hills and along the coast. These led them to examine the natural world and their place in it. The result formed the foundations of the Romantic movement in this country and no wonder! Today you can follow in their footsteps by taking the Coleridge Way from the National Trust owned Coleridge Cottage to Lynmouth on the other side of the Somerset border.
Protected by law as the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to be designated back in 1956, the Quantock Hills are famous for their heathland, oak woods and Jurassic Coast. Look out for thatched cottages, wild ponies, panoramic views and whortleberries. They lead onto Exmoor National Park, a unique landscape shaped by people and nature over thousands of years.

The Regal Theatre

The Regal Theatre stands in the centre of Minehead, and provides a wide ranging programme of professional and community entertainment that includes drama, film, comedy, dance, music and performance of all kinds

Exmoor Coaster

With the traditional seaside resort of Minehead at one end, and the traditional fishing village of Lymouth at the other end, the Exmoor Coaster links seaside towns across the dramatic moorland, traversing the insanely steep Porlock Hill as it climbs between coast and moor.

Forest School - Every Tuesday

Join Forest Catkins every Tuesday at Nutcombe Bottom in Dunster from 10:30-12 for forest school activities.

Minehead Park Run - Every Saturday 10am

A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!

Porlock

Porlock is a place for everyone and all seasons. Porlock is a special and unique village. It has retained much of its medieval charm including the 13th Century church of St Dubricius with its famous truncated spire and many attractive and historic buildings.

Taunton

As befits a County Town, Taunton is steeped in history and has much to entertain our visitors, from the superb Somerset Museum in the remnants of the castle to the Cricket Ground and Racecourse. A centre for Arts and Culture, it has shops, cafes, restaurants, riverside walks and a weekly Farmers’ Market.

Rooted between the majestic Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels and the woodland-cloaked Blackdowns, Taunton’s lively nature plays host to major sports centre Somerset County Cricket Club. It’s also a growing business hub, serviced by a vibrant hospitality culture.

Bridgwater

A rich legacy as a port and commercial centre is joined by Europe’s largest illuminated carnival, which lights up the streets every November.

Wellington

Wellington, in Somerset is a friendly town set in the wide valley between the Brendon and Blackdown Hills, Wellington gave its name to the famous 'Iron Duke', victor of the Battle of Waterloo. The 175ft column built on the scarp edge of the Blackdowns was erected in his honour: at night it is an illuminated landmark for miles around.

Blenheim Gardens

Minehead premier gardens just off the town centre and a few minutes’ walk from the sea front and the harbour

Minehead Storywalks

Storywalks are simple digital trails, which are accessible through the browser in smart phones and tablets. Just click on the web link, all info is then downloaded and away you go. The walks are free and at the end is a geocache log for you to sign.