Things to do…
If you haven't visited our area of Somerset before, here are some of our favourite things to do!
Close to home is our beautiful (but not for bathing) Kilve beach, it’s only is a 5 minute drive away and is good for rock pooling and fossil hunting. The Chantry Tea gardens here are lovely for a cream tea or ice cream too.
Coleridge Cottage National Trust house in Nether Stowey also serves great cake!
Greatwood at Ranscombe is about 15 minute drive away or a lovely walk across the hills. It is really well set up for outside BBQ and picnic's. Lovely walks and streams for the children to play in. There is a quirky cafe called the Foxy Bean on the way up to the Great Wood, it has a lovely stream for the kids to play in and a large selection of cakes, drinks, smoothies and sandwiches, including fantastic Gluten and dairy free options. Look it up on their Facebook page for menu's and opening times.
Slightly further away we have Dunster Castle (National Trust), they often run events over school holidays. Lovely gardens for a walk and a cafe. Dunster itself is a lovely village with lots of nice shops and places to eat, 'The Luttrel Arms' comes highly recommended, it has a pub menu or a special dining restaurant depending on what you are looking for.
Fyne Court is another National Trust Woodland near us. It is great for a walk and minibeast hunt, also has a good cafe with homemade cakes.
You might like to look up Hestercombe Gardens, near Taunton. It has a play area, really good restaurant, beautiful gardens and again runs activities for kids in the holidays.
West Somerset railway can be hopped on at Williton (15 minutes away)
Minehead has all the arcades, some independent shops and of course fish and chips. A favourite of ours is the lovely vegetarian organic cafe Toucan and Fridays is the Minehead farmers market. There is also Butlins which does day passes if the idea of staying there is not your cup of tea! The sea is good for bathing at high tide.
If your little ones are into scooting, there is an indoor skatepark called Minehead Eye. Good fun for a wet day, it has a climbing wall, cafe and runs special events over the holidays.Watchet is a pretty harbour town and does great fish and chips. The fantastic new East Quay Art Centre https://www.eastquaywatchet.co... definite a highlight and the food at the Kitchen is really great https://www.eastquaywatchet.co... It is a lovely little town to stroll around the antique shops and museum. Also the 'Street Fair' is the first weekend of each month, Watchet also has a good Chinese take away, and a variety of cafes and pubs .
If you wanted a bucket and spade day, Blue Anchor beach is good. There is the fab Driftwood Cafe there and a car boot sale on a Saturday afternoons.
The Quantocks are brilliant for Mountain Biking, just shout if you would like more information as we are a family of keen cyclists. If you look up, Wills Neck Quantock Hills, Triscombe Stone and Crowcombe you should find some good ideas for trails, also lots of clips on youtube if you search Mountain biking on the Quantocks . Everywhere is accessible right from the door and there is a safe shed with padlock for you to safely store your bike.
There are wetlands near us (about a 10 minute drive) that are good for cycling and bird watching. If you search Steart Marshes you will find all the info.
We really enjoy Porlock Wier, there is a lovely Pub called the Bottom Ship. Porlock Wier has a rocky beach but has a large safe bay which is good for kayaking and paddle boarding and swimming at high tide.
We recommend Exmoor Adventures https://exmooradventures.co.uk. for organised outdoor activities or hiring bikes.
Further along the coast and a stunning drive are Lynton and Lynmouth.
Taunton is our county town and has a good range of shops and eateries as well as a museum.
Clarkes village at Street is our local outlet shopping centre with lots of great brand shops at discount prices.
Glastonbury is a quirky little town with lots of unusual shops and cafes as well as the famous Tor and Abbey.
Local Pub guide...
The Plough Inn, Holford
A short walk down through the village. It is dog/child friendly and serves great pub grub!
https://www.holfordvillage.com/ploughinn.htm
The Hood Arms, Kilve
Lovely beer garden and good food, it is very popular so we recommend that you book.
The Bicknoller Inn, Bicknoller
https://www.thebicknollerinn.co.uk
The Rising Sun, West Bagborough
http://www.therisingsunbagborough.co.uk
The Carew Arms, Crowcombe
https://www.thecarewarms.co.uk
(all of the above are walkable over the hills)
The Babbling Brook, Shurton
https://www.thebabblingbrookinn.co.uk
The Ancient Mariner & The Cottage Inn, Nether Stowey
http://www.marinernetherstowey.co.uk http://thecottage-inn.co.uk
The Notley Arms, Monksilver
https://www.notleyarmsinn.co.uk
Local Cafes...
The Foxy Bean, Adscombe
A lovely cafe, it has a stream for the kids to play in and a large selection of cakes, drinks, smoothies and sandwiches. Look it up on their Facebook page for menu's and opening times.
The Kitchen, Farm Shop and Restaurant, Nether Stowey
https://www.kitchenatquantocklakes.com
Chantry Tea Gardens, Kilve
01278 741457