Destination of the month - Index

Why go?

With spectacular countryside and coast, Somerset (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/) is the perfect place for a break.

Whether you're seeking to escape from it all with a loved one, get active with friends or find a great value family break, you can’t go wrong in this beautiful part of the West Country.

Visit Somerset (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/) to discover Exmoor National Park, 3 AONB's (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), the mysteries of King Arthur, Glastonbury Tor and historic Wells, Cheddar Gorge and fun at the seaside in Minehead, Burnham-on-Sea and Weston-super-Mare and more.

For great ideas, things to see and do, maps (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/maps), themed breaks (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/escape/special-breaks/searchresults?refine-category=on&src;_category=&channel;=SOMERESC&prodtype;=ACCO&posted;=1&refined;=1&v;=1&x;=77&y;=28) and autumn offers (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/home/autumn-special-offers/autumn-special-offers-o4921) read on or go to www.visitsomerset.co.uk (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/) …

Be Inspired

Watch videos (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/about-somerset/somerset-videos)
Not quite sure where to go? Then take a look at our 15 short videos to help you decide. Discover more about Wells, Minehead, Somerset’s natural landscapes and our very tasty food & drink.

Great days out – give the car a holiday! (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/car-free-itineraries)
Try one of our seven themed car-free days out, taking in historic towns and villages, seaside resorts, and the unspoilt countryside and orchards throughout the county.

Free Somerset Secrets Guide (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/home/sharing-somersets-secrets)
Local residents and celebrities, such as Marcus Trescothick and Kevin McCloud have contributed to a new guide to help you discover Somerset’s Secrets. A Giant's Chair and Poet's Walk are two of the secrets in our new free guide...

Games for the children (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/family/fun-childrens-games)
Nobody looks forward to a holiday more than children. So why not help them learn something about where they’re going by playing our new games featuring a young King Arthur, Penny the Exmoor Pony, Daisy the Donkey and Cheddar Georgia.

What to see & do

Great attractions (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/car-free-itineraries)
Whatever the weather there’s lots to see and do in Somerset. From the caves at Wookey Hole (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/wookey-hole-caves-and-papermill-p26531) and Cheddar Gorge (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/cheddar-caves-and-gorge-p139983), steam railways including East Somerset Railway (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/east-somerset-railway-p141183), museums, such as Fleet Air Arm (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/fleet-air-arm-museum-p137783) and Haynes Motor Museum (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/haynes-international-motor-museum-p137883) and castles at Dunster (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/dunster-castle-p131283), Nunney (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/nunney-castle-p130113) and Farleigh Hungerford (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/farleigh-hungerford-castle-p130263).

Get your Heritage Touring Map (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/touring-map) 
Explore Somerset’s heritage attractions by our acclaimed touring map. Choose from over 100 historic places to visit based around seven themed routes.

Places to chill out (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/escape/10-places-to-chill-out)
Somerset also has a number of great natural attractions too, from the world-renowned Glastonbury Tor and Ham Hill, as well as RSPB and English Nature Reserves (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/things-to-see-and-do/searchresults?refine-category=on&src;_category=85&refine-polygon;=on&src;_polygon=&channel;=VS&prodtype;=ATTR&posted;=1&refined;=1&v;=1&x;=95&y;=21).

Get active (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/get-active)
Great views and scenery, varied terrain and one of the best networks of footpaths and bridleways in the country (including the South West Coast Path and Coleridge Way) make Somerset a perfect place for all walkers (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/get-active/walking), cyclists (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/get-active/cycling) and horse-riders (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/get-active/horse-riding). If angling or golf (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/get-active/golf) is your game then we’ve got a huge choice of lakes, rivers and courses.

10 top tips for families (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/family/10-top-tips)
Help build great memories, check out our ten ideas for things to do with your family in Somerset.

Where to stay

Whether you want a short break or longer self catering holiday, Visit Somerset (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/) has hundreds of hotels, B&B’s, holiday cottages and campsites to choose from.

The Visit Somerset website only lists quality inspected accommodation – many are award-winners of the highest standard.

If you are looking for somewhere really special which truly understands what ‘added value’ means, take a look at the ‘escape from it all’ (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/places-to-stay) or ‘family’ (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/family/home) Somerset websites for some great offers.

For great deals check out their autumn special offers section (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/home/autumn-special-offers/autumn-special-offers-o4921)!

Don't miss

Somerset Art Weeks (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/whats-on/somerset-art-weeks-p713133)
This nationally acclaimed event runs from 19th September to 4th October throughout the county and lets you meet the artists in their studios and see their artwork of just about every medium!

Tour of Britain (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/whats-on/tour-of-britain-south-west-stages-2009-p461343)
Britain’s biggest cycling event returns to Somerset this year on 17th and 18th September. A fantastic atmosphere is created for the international riders, with thousands of people lining the route.

Mmmmm…Food Festivals (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/whats-on/searchresults?prodtype=EVEN&prodtype;=EVEN&start;_month=4&src;_anydate=yes&channel;=VS&channel;=VS&refine-category;=on&refined;=1&src;_category=1069&posted;=1&refine-polygon;=on&src;_polygon=&start;_day=28&end;_day=28&refine;=&v;=1)
If you enjoy tasting the delights of quality local food then the best time of year to visit is October! From the 2nd October to 11th October the Exmoor Food Festival (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/whats-on/exmoor-food-festival-p666613) takes place, whilst from 23rd October to 1st November it’s the Mendip Food Festival (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/whats-on/mendip-food-and-drink-festival-p393303). Yum.

Carnival Lights and Colour (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/whats-on/somerset-carnivals)
From the end of September to mid November the Somerset night sky is lit up by a series of spectacular carnivals. Being part of an ancient tradition dating back to the 1600’s that commemorates the Gunpowder Plot, the carnivals provide a wonderful atmosphere to enjoy.

How to get there and more information

At just 2-3 hours from London, Southern England and the Midlands Somerset is the perfect location for holidays and short breaks.

The M5 and A303 are major routes into the county, whilst the nearest airports are less than an hour away at Bristol and Exeter, and Taunton Train Station offers connections to most major cities. Visit Somerset for help in planning your trip (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/planning-your-trip).

For more information on visiting Somerset contact the helpful staff at one of their Tourist Information Centres (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/planning-your-trip/information-centres). Also, discover more by using the interactive map of Somerset (www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/maps).