SOMERSET & EXMOOR
GREAT
escapes 30
unique ideas to inspire your West Country breaks
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Welcome
There’s more than a whiff of romance in the air in Somerset and Exmoor. This is, after all, where the poets Coleridge and Wordsworth roamed, where Blackmore set the forbidden trysts of Lorna Doone and John Ridd, where King Arthur lies resting. Probably. It’s a land of castles and clifftops, of charming hamlets and wild moors, of clean air and burbling brooks, of starling murmurations and stags roaring. It’s where farms produce fabulously fresh food – and restaurants and pubs dish it up. In short, this is the English countryside par excellence – and the perfect destination for a great escape, whether it’s for a day ambling one of the well-marked footpaths or a week exploring the byways and villages. This new guide brings together 30 of the most inspiring experiences across the region, promising a treat for everyone, whether your interests are astronomy or gastronomy, activities or festivities. They’re all practical suggestions that you can tailor to create your own break in Somerset and Exmoor – to find out more and for full details of how to book, visit the dedicated Great Escapes web pages at greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes So delve in – and who knows? You just might fall in love with Somerset and Exmoor yourself.
Leave the car and strike out to explore the countless paths
About this publication Project manager: Richard Hammond Editor & writer: Paul Bloomfield Art Director: Tina Smith Cover photo: JMW Photography Photos from: Colin Hawkins, Lynne Newton, JMW Photography, Paul Miles, Ian Brodie, Peter Booton/Somerset Tourism, Colin Rowe/ Somerset Tourism, Exmoor National Park Authority Printed by: Halcyon Print Management Ltd © Greentraveller Limited. The contents of this publication are believed correct at the time of printing. Nevertheless the publisher can accept no responsibility for errors or omissions, changes in the details given or for any expense or loss thereby caused.
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This publication has been jointly commissioned from Greentraveller by West Somerset Council, Exmoor National Park Authority, Sedgemoor District Council and Somerset County Council as part of the COOL tourism project to grow and promote sustainable rural tourism. Project partners have taken every reasonable care in compiling the information but they do not accept responsibility for incorrect, misleading or incomplete information contained herein. The inclusion of any establishment does not imply a recommendation, nor can the project partners accept responsibility for the products offered. The COOL tourism project has been selected in the context of the Interreg IVA France (Channel) – England European cross-border co-operation programme, co-financed by the ERDF.
Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
GET ACTIVE IN THE MENDIPS Cycle the trails, delve into the caves and climb the rocks of these dramatic limestone hills p12–13 & 15
WALK THE COLERIDGE WAY Follow in the footsteps of the Romantic poets on a hike from the Quantocks to the coast at Lynmouth p6 & 11
BRISTOL CHANNEL
Burnhamon-sea
Valley
Barnstaple
Minehead Porlock Watchet Dunster
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK
Nether Stowey
Dunkery Beacon (519m)
A37 Mendip Hills
Cheddar
Glastonbury
Bridgwater
Quantock Hills
Dulverton
Bishops Lydeard
A36
1 M5
Frome Shepton Mallet 3
A30
Taunton
Blackdown Hills
GET STARRY-EYED
Midsomer Norton
Wells
7
Join a wildlife safari to spot roaming herds, red deer and birds of prey p14 Doone Lynmouth
Bath
Westonsuper-mare
A3
MEET AN EXMOOR PONY
Bristol
M5
A303
Yeovil
Chard Crewkerne
Mainline rail links
TASTE LOCAL TREATS
Prepare to be dazzled by constellations, comets and nebulae with an astronomy outing in Europe’s first designated International Dark Sky Reserve: Exmoor p13
Head to one of several farmers’ markets or track down the finest cheeses, ciders, beers and freerange meats p4
GASP AT A STARLING SPECTACLE Watch the magical murmurations of starlings and spot birds including stately cranes and soaring harriers p4
Find out more
Getting here
For more information on activities and accommodation, go to: www.visitsomerset.co.uk/escapes www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/escapes www.greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes
Reaching the delights of Somerset and Exmoor by public transport is easy. First Great Western trains reach Taunton and other Somerset stations, or Tiverton Parkway for southern Exmoor, in around two hours from London. Cross Country trains from the Midlands, northern England and Scotland are also convenient – regular Birmingham–Taunton services take two hours – and trains from Cornwall and Devon also access the area. National Express coaches offer convenient connections from across the country, with great-value fares. Once you’re in the region, heritage rail services and the scenic 300 Coastal Link bus service through Exmoor provide enjoyable ways of exploring.
Alternatively, call or drop into one of the friendly Tourist Information Centres at locations including: Burnhamon-Sea Frome Glastonbury Lynton Minehead
01278 787852 01373 465757 01458 832954 01598 752225 01643 702624
or National Park Centres at: Dulverton 01398 323841 Dunster 01643 821835
Porlock 01643 863150 Shepton Mallet 01749 345258 Somerset Visitor Centre, M5 Services 01934 750833 Taunton 01823 336344 Wells 01749 671770
Lynmouth
Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
01598 752509
crosscountrytrains.co.uk firstgreatwestern.co.uk nationalexpress.com exploremoor.co.uk
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1 BIRDWATCHING
Be mesmerised by a murmuration
A cloud appears on the horizon, then another materialises, heading from the opposite direction. They meet and merge, swirling and spreading and bunching and billowing, till at last the shimmering mass pours itself in one smooth movement, like water down a funnel, into the reedbeds. This is a starling murmuration, hundreds of thousands of birds gathering at their winter roost in a spectacle unlike any other – and the reserves of the Somerset Levels are among the best places in the world to witness it. Starlings aren’t the only avian superstars here; Somerset is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Stately cranes have resettled the Levels, joining bitterns, herons, warblers, hobbies and countless more. Moors host birds of prey – watch for kestrels, hen harriers and buzzards – along with curlews, stonechats and skylarks, and woods bustle with flycatchers, dippers and even shy goshawks. Bring your binoculars, join a guided walk or take a crane safari to see these magnificent birds and celebrate their resurgence.
Experience it
Find the best birding spots and guided tours at greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes/birds
2 FOOD MARKETS & EVENTS
Forage for flavours
Pick up the freshest ingredients at Somerset’s regular farmers’ markets
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Local produce in Somerset and Exmoor is as good as you’ll find anywhere – and finding it is a treat. As well as excellent independent shops, a series of farmers’ markets showcase the best fresh products and artisan goods – breads, cheeses, ciders, cakes – while festivals assemble the producers of the region’s finest fare. You could also join a foraging workshop to learn how to spot nature’s bounty.
Experience it
Track down markets and foodie events at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/markets Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
3 UNIQUE ACCOMMODATION
Stay somewhere special
Clouds meet and merge, bunch and billow: hundreds of thousands of starlings roosting
There are beds, there are breakfasts, and there are boltholes providing something just a little different – something unique to Somerset and Exmoor. Comfy farmhouses, homely inns and historic
retreats we have in spades – but how about settling the family into a Mongolian yurt on a working farm? Or bedding down in a glamping E-den cabin in the shadow of Glastonbury Tor, gazing up at the stars? Or in a cottage alongside a (whisper it) haunted manor house?
Experience it
Discover a selection of special places to stay at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/stay
The gardens at Barrington Court are alive with colour
Mystical Glastonbury Tor looms above the reedbeds of the Somerset Levels
4 ACCESSIBLE ACTIVITIES
Access all areas
With facilities for those with limited mobility or other disabilities, everyone can explore our spectacular outdoors. Pony Access offers wheelchair users all-terrain transport on a pony-powered chariot, while Countryside Mobility provides trampers and wheelyboats. The Calvert Trust Exmoor offers activities, from archery and abseiling to zipwires, to anyone with physical, learning, sensory or behavioural disabilities.
Experience it
Find options at greentraveller. co.uk/greatescapes/access Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
5 GARDENS
Feel the flower power The region’s wild, remote spots are ravishing, but there’s also an array of beautiful gardens studding Somerset and Exmoor. Some, like the historic landscaped affair at Hestercombe or the formal arrangements of Kilver Court and Barcroft Hall, are serene and ordered; others are awash with
colour and invention. Snowdrop Valley near Wheddon Cross high on Exmoor is, as the name suggests, blanketed with white blooms each February.
Experience it
Explore the gardens of Somerset and Exmoor at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/gardens
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6 LITERARY LINKS
Take a poetic pilgrimage
The landscapes and locations of Somerset and Exmoor have inspired authors and poets for generations – and following in the writers’ footsteps is a novel way of exploring the area. While living in a cottage in Nether Stowey, Samuel Taylor Coleridge composed the Rime of the Ancient Mariner and started Kubla Khan. Start at his cottage – now a National Trust property – and follow the Coleridge Way through the Quantocks onto Exmoor, past Wordsworth’s home in Holford, through Porlock – stop at the Ship Inn, where Robert Southey composed a sonnet in the bar – to Lynmouth, where Shelley spent his first honeymoon. More Coleridge? Admire the statue of the Ancient Mariner, clutching the fateful albatross, in Watchet. RD Blackmore’s Lorna Doone is set around Malmsmead and Badgworthy Water; Oare Church is the scene of the story’s violent denouement. Then there’s Glastonbury Tor, overlooking the Avalon Marshes – climb to the hilltop chapel under which the legendary King Arthur may be sleeping.
Follow in the footsteps of RD Blackmore’s starcrossed lovers through the Doone Valley
Experience it
Find out how to track down literary touchpoints at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/literary-events 8 CLIMBING
Play the rock star
Ride across shorelines, moor or hills 7 HORSERIDING
Saddle up for the mane attraction Bridleways lace Somerset, particularly through the Mendip Hills and Exmoor, providing countless routes for a pleasant country hack. And with plenty of stables offering livery, equestrian facilities and tuition for riders of all abilities and
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levels of experience, Somerset is a great place to grab the reins and explore on horseback.
Experience it
Find details of stables and riding schools at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/horseriding
This region is craggy. Rugged. A bit lumpy. There’s more geology than you can shake a stick at – and ample rock-climbing. For experienced climbers there are routes to tackle on coastal cliffs, in the Mendips and the Valley of the Rocks on Exmoor, and experienced instructors offer lessons and sessions for ages 8 upwards.
Experience it
Rope up with the best outfits at greentraveller. co.uk/great escapes/climbing Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
9 PROTECTED AREAS
Open your eyes to natural beauties Somerset is studded with Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as Exmoor National Park. Though you don’t need an official designation to recognise the allure of the Blackdown, Mendip and Quantock Hills, nor of Cranborne Chase, the AONBs offer countless ideas and helpful guides for prospecting these woodlands, escarpments, downs and moor.
The Mendip Hills offer sweeping vistas across Somerset to the coast
Experience it
Discover how to explore Somerset’s protected areas at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/AONBs
10 CYCLING
Make tracks on two wheels
Bike trails range from single-track to flat and easy
If hills thrill you, rejoice: single-track and other off-road mountain-biking trails spider the Mendips, Quantocks, Blackdown Hills and Exmoor, with bike-hire outfits and guides waiting to set you up to tackle the wildest rides. But if the idea of hauling yourself up (and hurtling down) muddy tracks leaves you cold, fear not: Somerset is blessed with many more gentle road and trafficfree routes, some along rivers, canal towpaths or disused (and quite flat) railway lines. With plenty of maps and guides to help you plan your mellow meander through the countryside, you can enjoy rides ranging from an hour or two’s level saunter to a multi-day circuit around the attractive towns of South Somerset.
Experience it
Browse extensive resources including route guides, maps, bike-hire outfits and guides at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/cycle-rides
Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
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The site of Dunster Castle has been occupied for over 1,000 years
Dunster Castle shows how the lives of noble families evolved
11 HISTORIC SITES
Relive the past
The ancient human heritage of the region is etched into the landscape, from the channels dug into the Somerset Levels to Iron Age Bats Castle at Dunster. Alongside the everyday history – centuries-old farmhouses and churches, clapper bridges and mills – evidence of former glories beg discovery. The abbeys of Glastonbury and Cleeve, once grand monastic complexes, bear the scars of Henry VIII’s dissolution. Dunster Castle shows how the lives of noble families evolved, while Wells Cathedral retains its ornately sculpted west front, and magnificent medieval clock. Time your visit for choral evensong to be transported back through the centuries.
Experience it
Discover the most fascinating historic sites at greentraveller. co.uk/greatescapes/history
Immerse yourself in rural life on a farm stay 12 FARM STAYS
Find a home on the grange
Love the idea of waking to the sound of lowing cows or honking geese? Relish the scent of meadows, and the sight of sheep grazing on a nearby hillside? Farm-stay options range from cosy bed and breakfast outfits in 500-year-old manor houses to self-catering cottages with all mod cons in converted farmhouses and barns. You could even stay in an updated shepherd’s hut or purpose-built glamping cabin.
Experience it
Select from an array of farm accommodation at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/farmstays
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Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
13 MUSEUMS
Make an exhibition of yourself Somerset’s many museums feature displays covering the gamut of topics: coastal life at Combe Martin, local history and the Romantic poets at Porlock, rural life at Glastonbury and Allerford, bricks and tiles at Bridgwater, steam power at Westonzoyland and, well, pretty much anything at the Museum
of Somerset, with changing exhibitions and displays telling the story of the county from prehistoric times. Among the treasures is the Frome Hoard, a huge collection of Roman coins.
Experience It
Browse Somerset’s museums at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/museums
Wells and Mendip Museum displays exhibits on geology and local history
Indulge in a proper West Country cream tea
14 LOCAL FOOD
Tantalise your tastebuds
Cider you’d expect here; wild venison, too, and perhaps organic ruby red beef. But chocolate? Expert chocolatiers craft divine confectionery in Somerset and Exmoor. And wine? Yes, you can savour crisp whites made from golden Madeleine Angevine or Kernling grapes grown near Shepton Mallet. A jointhe-dots itinerary linking vineyard with organic farm with brewery and chocolate house makes a delicious gourmet break through the region.
Experience it
Compile your gastronomic wishlist at greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes/localfood
15 CANOEING & SAILING
Ride the waves
The wild wet west offers ample opportunities to take to the rivers, lakes and sea. Centres such as the Mill on the Brue offer tuition in open canoeing, while you can hire kayaks, sailing boats and windsurfers Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
at spots including Wimbleball Lake. Adventure outfits run kayaking courses on calm lakes, more challenging trips down river rapids and
enthralling expeditions along the Exmoor shore.
Experience it
Find details of activities at greentraveller. co.uk/greatescapes/ watersports
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Walk through huge caverns and past crystalclear streams at Wookey Hole 16 CAVES
Take the underground
Got a head for depths? The great limestone massif of the Mendips is riven with clefts and caverns – Europe’s largest underground cave network, in fact – and many of them are ripe for exploration. Some, such as Gough’s and Cox’s Caves at Cheddar Gorge, are well-lit showcaves with
beautiful stalactites, fountains and pools. Others are narrow, dark, dirty and claustrophobic – offering a thrilling adventure to those willing to don a hard hat and crawl in.
Experience it
Delve into the subterranean world at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/caves
Follow the South West Coast Path along the cliffs west of Lynton to the Valley of the Rocks
17 GUIDED TOURS
Follow the guiding lights
Watch (and listen) out for birds or a red deer stag on a guided wildlife safari
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There’s a wealth of heritage and history to discover for yourself – but also a rich seam of expert knowledge that will help you dig a little deeper into the stories of the area. Joining an expert on a guided tour, you might enjoy closer encounters with the region’s native creatures and free-ranging Exmoor ponies on a wildlife safari, learn about the quarrying industry with a specialist on local social history, discover how local farms operate, or get tips on how to improve your photography from a professional snapper – just a few possibles among a panoply of options.
Experience it
Explore the range of expert-guided tours from a wide selection at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/guidedtours Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
18 WALKING
Take a hike
These routes were made for walking – thousands of them, with over 3,800 miles of public rights of way in Somerset alone. There are two big hitters: the Coleridge Way – newly extended to Lynmouth in 2014 – meanders over 50 miles from the Romantic poet’s home village of Nether Stowey through the Brendon Hills, while England’s longest national trail, the 630-mile South West Coast Path, winds west along the shoreline from Minehead through magical woodland, atop high cliffs and past thatched cottages and empty beaches. But with so many footpaths spidering the region, it’s easy to pick a hike to suit you: a gentle riverside amble across the Levels, a romp with dogs or kids through the Mendip Hills, or an epic challenge in remote moorland. There’s a wealth of accommodation geared up to welcome walkers, with maps and tips for trails, while the annual Exmoor Walking Festival offers an array of guided hikes catering to all levels and interests. The Moor Rover is an accessible minibus service offering pick-up and drop-off anywhere across Exmoor or along the Coleridge Way – perfect for walkers.
Experience it
Plan your Somerset and Exmoor walking break at greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes/walks
19 COASTEERING
Take a running jump
Swim out to sea. Climb rocky cliff. Leap from 10m high into the foaming waves. Repeat. Sounds simple enough – and it is: the burgeoning sport of coasteering requires little more than the ability to swim and an experienced instructor to tell you where and when to swim, climb and jump. The rest is down to you and your adrenalin gland – and it’s one of the most exhilarating ways of exploring the wild coastline of Somerset and Exmoor.
Experience it
Find companies at greentraveller. co.uk/greatescapes/ coasteering Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
20 FALCONRY
Watch like a hawk
People have hunted with birds of prey in England for well over a millennium – and you can gasp at the flying prowess of owls, kestrels, peregrines and Harris hawks, or take a walk on Exmoor with one of these spectacular birds.
Experience it
Plan your encounter with a bird of prey at greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes/falconry
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21 BEACHES
Bet on a shore thing Packed your bucket and spade? Well, there’s sand aplenty – both at the long strands near Burnham-on-Sea, and farther west towards Minehead, Porlock and into Exmoor, along to the Tunnels Beaches
of Ilfracombe where access was whittled through the cliffs to the shore. But away from the well-known resorts are hidden gems that reward seeking out – tiny coves and strands where swimming feels
like a private party, and the act of finding them is half the fun.
Experience it
Discover a range of coves, beaches and wild swimming spots at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/wildswimming
Clamber the rocks in one of Somerset’s hidden coves
22 FESTIVALS
Move to the music Glastonbury Festival is just one of dozens held in Somerset and Exmoor each year, from arts – Frome Festival, with concerts and workshops over nine days in July – to local heritage events such as the Exmoor Pony Festival. The Somerset
23 COUNTRY SHOWS
Carnivals, kaleidoscopic parades with brightly costumed dancers, pack the streets during the first fortnight of November.
Experience it
Find festivals and events at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/festivals
Take in a show In a packed line-up of country shows, the stars are of the fourlegged variety. Meet the cows, sheep, pigs, horses and dogs that populate the farms of Somerset and Exmoor.
Experience it
Plan your visit to a country show at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/countryshows
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Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
24 TRADITIONAL SKILLS
Try your hand at basket-weaving with a craft workshop
Take a working holiday
Somerset isn’t backwards in looking forwards, working to ensure a future for the crafts and industries that are woven into the region’s past. Several watermills have been restored, some once again grinding flour, others operating sawmills – visit Dunster, Simonsbath, Bishops Lydeard or Hestercombe to witness them in action. And there are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on with traditional skills: you could learn willow-weaving, leather crafting, dry-stone walling or even hedge-laying.
Experience it
Find a range of demonstrations and courses at greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes/crafts
25 STARGAZING
Spark stars in your eyes
Until you’ve gasped at the glittering feather boa of the Milky Way billowing across the night sky about Exmoor, you’ve never really seen a galaxy. Designated Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve in 2011, in recognition of efforts made to minimise light pollution, Exmoor is among the country’s finest stargazing locations – and enjoying a celestial adventure is easy: simply head into the centre of the moor on a cloudless Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
night, and gaze up. National Park Visitor Centres hold planispheres and books to help you get started, some accommodation providers offer dark skies safari packages, and if you catch the astronomy bug you can even hire a high-spec telescope.
Experience it
Learn how to enjoy an astronomical adventure at greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes/darkskies Advertisement feature
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26 WILDLIFE
Spy all creatures great and small
Explore Exmoor in autumn and you may be startled by an alarming roar: the bellow of a rutting red deer stag, proclaiming his might to would-be rivals (and aiming to impress nearby hinds). But Britain’s largest land mammal isn’t the only enchanting creature you can expect to meet in Somerset. Head to the western uplands and you’ll
likely see Exmoor ponies, free-ranging creatures that graze the hills; wild goats hop the rocks on the coast near Lynton; and otters can –
if you’re really lucky – be glimpsed on quiet stretches of river. To boost your chances of an animal encounter, join a specialist wildlife safari or visit the Exmoor Pony Centre.
Head to the western uplands and you’ll likely see Exmoor ponies
Experience it
Find the best places for spotting willdife, and a range of companies offering safaris, at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/wildlife
Exmoor ponies have survived unchanged for thousands of years
27 COOKERY COURSES
Learn to prepare gourmet dishes with traditional Somerset cheeses
Cook up a storm
Culinary magicians across the region transform fresh local ingredients – wild Exmoor venison, seasonal seafood, foraged mushrooms, handreared lamb, beef and more – into gastronomic masterpieces. And they’re offering to share their skills and know-how at hands-on cookery schools, with options ranging from basic techniques to specialist courses in breadmaking, Italian cuisine and game preparation.
Experience it
Browse the menu of cookery courses at greentraveller. co.uk/greatescapes/cookery
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Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
28 ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
Picture this
Given the variety of alluring landscapes – rugged or rural, dramatic or serene – and the cast of characters inhabiting them, it’s no surprise that artists and photographers find ample inspiration in Somerset and Exmoor. Galleries across the region display works by local artists, and you can visit many in their homes and studios during Somerset Art Weeks.
Experience it
Track down galleries, arts events, courses and workshops at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/artandphotography
The ethereal light of the Somerset Levels lures photographers
29 STEAM RAILWAYS
Get all steamed up The merest whiff of a steam engine conjures up halcyon memories – and the romance of the rails is alive and well in the south-west, with not one but four heritage railways. The East Somerset Railway chugs through the Mendip Hills near Shepton Mallet, the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway is being extended from Woody Bay on the Exmoor Coast, and the Somerset & Dorset Railway is building up a head of steam from its base at Midsomer Norton. Most extensive is the West Somerset Railway, a
30 FISHING
20-mile line between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead through Crowcombe, Watchet and Dunster, offering a magical ride from Quantocks to coast. For real enthusiasts there are engineman and footplate experiences to savour. And don’t miss the water-powered Cliff Railway linking Lynmouth harbour with its loftier twin town at Lynton.
Experience it
Find details of the region’s heritage railways at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/steamrailways All aboard the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore Station
Get hooked on angling
From brooks babbling through dappled woods to shoreline reefs and well-stocked lakes, fish have plenty of places to thrive in Somerset and Exmoor – as do anglers. Experienced fishers will find hefty trout, pike and bass, while novices can enjoy beginners’ lessons with expert instruction on tying knots, casting, flies and tackle. If you’ve never held a rod before, this is the place to try for the first time.
Experience it
Find a selection of fishing venues and instructors at greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes/fishing
Salmon and trout shimmer in lakes Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes
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Plan your Great Escape
Few places offer such thrilling variety as Somerset and Exmoor. Blessed with a cornucopia of spectacular landscapes, from moors and forests to craggy cliffs and sandy beaches, the region is ripe for exploring on foot, by bike, by paddle or by pony. This handy guide is packed with ideas to inspire your next Great Escape – whether it’s a short break or a longer adventure. Our pick of 30 top experiences introduces lip-smacking local foods, unique accommodation, absorbing history and thriving birds and animals. Discover how you can: n Walk in a poet’s footsteps n Be entranced by a starling murmuration n Indulge in gourmet cheeses, cakes, ciders and chocolates n Learn kayaking, fishing, astronomy or photography n Find a unique place to stay
Enjoy a cream tea at Dunster
Watch a starling murmuration
In association with
Climb to scenic Glastonbury Tor
www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/ escapes
www.visitsomerset.co.uk/ escapes www.greentraveller.co.uk/ greatescapes 16 Advertisement feature
Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes