- UK Information
- UK Holiday Cottages
- Regional Guides
- Somerset Holiday Cottages
Somerset Holiday Cottages
A holiday cottage in Somerset, whether in the countryside or on the coast, can cater for anyone's taste, making a holiday not to be forgotten. There are holiday cottages all over Somerset to suit any size family or pocket.
Wells is the smallest city in England, nestled in the Mendip hills, and its cathedral is worth a visit on a day trip from your holiday cottage. Built in 1180, it takes its name from the holy water available in the springs in the Bishops Palace grounds. Wells cathedral has survived 8 centuries with all its surrounding buildings, treasures from the 13th.to the 15th.centuries.
Further south, especially round Yeovil, you will come across quaint villages and stately houses built from honey-coloured stone, some of which house holiday cottages in Somerset. Somerset is full of history and legends, especially in Exmoor, the home of Lorna Doone. You can walk in the footsteps of King Arthur and King Alfred, and visit the mysterious Glastonbury Tor, which rises majestically from ancient wetlands, the Somerset Levels. The Somerset Levels and the Moors are great for nature lovers and cyclists.
Exmoor National Park was established in 1954 and provides stunning landscapes, wilderness and tranquillity, and you may glimpse the wild red deer, the buzzard or the native Exmoor ponies. At sunset you can see badgers, and later in the evening see bats. There are opportunities for all people, whether you are a rambler, cyclist, horserider, nature lover or solitude seeker. Exmoor offers a warm welcome, tranquil moorland and winding rivers, with quaint villages, attractive towns and charming harbours sprinkled over it. You can book a holiday cottage on or around Exmoor to take in the beautiful wilderness. There are various walks available on Exmoor, with spectacular coastal walks around Porlock, Lynton, Lynmouth and the Valley of Rocks, woodland walks from Dulverton, and heritage and archaeological walks from Dunster.
The coast of Exmoor is very rocky, with secluded bays and impressive cliffs, but there are long sandy beaches in Somerset, such as Minehead or Burnham-on-Sea, that you can relax on during your holiday cottage break in Somerset.
There are 5 ranges of hills, the Mendips, the Blackdowns, the Quantocks, the Poldens and the Brendons, all of which have their own individuality.
Taunton is Somerset's county town, and offers excellent shopping and is a good base for touring, especially if you have booked a holiday cottage in Somerset.
Somerset is famous for its cider and cheese, and you can see cheddar cheese being made in Cheddar Gorge, or a Somerset cider producer. Somerset is also famous for its arts and crafts, especially for willow basket making, so you can easily find traditional souvenirs to take back from your holiday cottage break.
The Coleridge Way is a walking route in the footsteps of the romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge when he visited Somerset.
Places to go
Wookey Hole caves and papermill in Wells offer spectacular caves, said to be the legendary home of the Witch of Wookey, and a working Victorian papermill, which houses various exhibitions, such as a film on how paper was made and even the opportunity to make your own paper, and incorporates the Old Penny Arcade, the Magical Mirror Maze. The River Axe ravine and the Cave Diving Museum are also well worth a visit, and are included with the tours. This would be a fun day trip from the base of your holiday cottage in Somerset.
Cheddar Gorge makes a good day out from your holiday cottage in Somerset, and it offers activities above and below ground, and has attracted tourists for 200 years. It is designated as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and here you can find many rare species. The caves and the gorge were created by 1 million year old Ice Age river beds. The area has been inhabited for 40,000 years, and the world famous Cheddar man is the oldest complete skeleton. Here you can take part in the rock sport adventure activities, or simply sit and enjoy a cream tea.
There is an animal collection of over 600 exotic animal and birds at Chard. Set in a scenic valley, this is part of world conservation programmes.
In Minehead, there is the West Somerset Railway, which recaptures the era of the branch line country railway in the days of steam. There are 20 miles of glorious Somerset scenery to be enjoyed as the train travels beside the Quantock Hills to the Bristol Channel coast. The West Somerset Railway seeks to recreate the atmosphere of a Great Western Railway branch line, and there are ten restored stations along the route, each having its own individual charm and character. Many have signalboxes, engine sheds, museums, displays, steam engines and other rolling stock to see. A great trip from the base of your holiday cottage in Somerset.
Festivals
There are 4 food festivals in Somerset, one in May and 3 in October. The Quantock Food Festival is the one in May, followed in October by the South Somerset Food Festival, then the Exmoor Food Festival and finally the Mendip Food Festival.
The South Somerset Food Festival is a celebration of local food and drink, with tasting, local menus, talks, competitions, tours and walks.
Historic sights
One of the most famous historic sights is the prehistoric stones of Stonehenge, which was erected sometime between 3000BC and 1600BC. The actual purpose of the stones is still not known, but Stonehenge was made a World Heritage Site in 1986. Stonehenge is surrounded by a ceremonial landscape comprising more than 300 burial mounds and major prehistoric monuments such as the Stonehenge Avenue, the Cursus, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls. This is an excellent area to book your holiday cottage in.
The Roman Baths museum shows the story of the Romans, who built the baths as a religious spa 2,000 years ago. The baths still flow with natural hot water, and you can view some of the objects which were thrown into the sacred spring at the temple of Sulis Minerva as a gift for the goddesses.
So, whatever you want, from an action packed holiday to a relaxing break, choose a holiday cottage in Somerset.