PLACES TO VISIT
IN SOMERSET & NEARBY
Something to do for visitors of all
interests, without driving far.
Distances are as the crow flies.
Postcodes are given for finding places on sat-nav or Multimap.
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Pictured
above:
Bruton: Packhorse Bridge
Click on one of the links below. |
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14
miles
Visit the Fleet Air Arm Museum
to see the collection of
planes from early
bi-planes to Concorde and Sea Harriers.
Try the aircraft carrier experience.
RNAS Yeovilton, Ilchester BA22 8HT. 01935-840565.
www.fleetairarm.com
7 miles See over 380 brilliant cars and motorcycles at
Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford BA22 7LH.
01963-440804. www.haynesmotormuseum.co.uk. |
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0 miles Sit
out in the garden and watch the birds. After a bit, watch
the bumblebees.
Amble along the footpath behind the mill, or tackle the 400
yard stroll along the river to the top weir where the mill-leat
and the river divide. When the batteries have charged
enough, potter off to some lovely old country towns:
Bruton (half a mile),
Castle Cary (5 miles),
Frome (11 miles),
Wells (14 miles) Pictures in the
"History Buffs" section below,
Sherborne (15 miles) or
Glastonbury (15 miles) Pictures in the
"Mystic Megs" section below,
Somerton (16 miles),
Shaftesbury (23 miles). |
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CITIZENS
OF ANKH-MORPORK
5 miIes
Visit the only Discworld emporium in the entire universe for all
manner of items that owe their inspiration to the writings of
Terry Pratchett -
such as a beautiful sculpture of the Alchemist's Guild, or maybe
a Thieves Guild bag or Hogswatch plaque, plus of course DVDs and
books.
The Cunning Artificer at 41 High Street, Wincanton,BA9
9JU. 01963-824686.
www.discworldemporium.com.
Right: model sculpture of the
Assassin's Guild. |
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20 miles
Borrow the binoculars and pocket bird book from Alison and
Brian, and visit the RSPB reserve at Catcott Lows, part of the
grazing meadows and ditch system of the western edge of the
Somerset levels. Just N of the A39 between Street and J23 of the
M5, 1ml N of the village of Catcott.
ST400 415. Map of reserve on
www.somersetwildlife.org/reserveview.php?id=53
Left: grey
heron, one of the birds which can be seen at the reserve.
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| Birds likely to be
seen at Catcott Lows with times in the year
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Cormorant overfly
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Wigeon Sep to Apr. Peak numbers 2500
Gadwall Feb. to June
Teal Nov. to Apr. Peak numbers 1000. Resident.
Mallard
Pintail Oct. to March
Shoveler Nov. to
Apr. Occasional resident.
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Tufted Duck Jan. to June. A few (diving duck)
Marsh Harrier overfly
Sparrowhawk overfly
Buzzard
Kestrel
Merlin occasional
Peregrine occasional
Coot Feb. to June
Lapwing Nov to Apr for peak numbers 4000, breeds.
Black-tailed Godwit occasional
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Bar-tailed Godwit occasional
Redshank probable breeder.
Swift overfly - feeding
Skylark occasional
Sand Martin overfly - feeding
Swallow overfly - feeding
House Martin overfly - feeding
Meadow Pipit occasional
Pied Wagtail occasional
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Ringed Plover occasional
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FLEAMARKETERS
6 miles At
the Bath and West Showground there are bi-monthly flea markets
and antiques fairs. Off the A371 between Shepton Mallet
and Castle Cary, BA4 6QN.
01749-822200. Details on www.bathandwest.co.uk
under Antique Fairs and www.dmgantiquefairs.com
under Shepton Mallet.
16 miles In central Somerton are antique
shops, and also the work of up to 60 artists from the Somerset Guild of
Craftsmen in the Courthouse Gallery, Market Square, TA11
7LX. 01458-274653. www.somersetguild.co.uk. |
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Regular town markets are usually from 9.00am - 1.00 pm:
Wincanton 1st Friday of the month, Memorial Hall, High Street,
Frome 2nd & 4th Saturday, Cheese & Grain building in the
central car park,
Glastonbury 4th Saturday, St John's car park,
Wells every Wednesday, Market Place,
Sherborne 3rd Friday, Cheap Street. |
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FOOTSLOGGERS
There are many lovely
local walks - borrow our maps and descriptions.
We are also on the Macmillan
Way and the Leland
Trail.
However you can't beat a good Iron Age Fort with its ditches,
ramparts, and panoramic views. Below:
view from Ham Hill.
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Below: Cadbury
Castle.
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6 miles Cadbury Castle, near South Cadbury,
legendary seat of King Arthur's Round Table. Grid ref: 627
251.
19 miles Ham Hill Country Park, near Stoke sub
Hamdon, TA14 6RW. Superb views over the South Somerset
moors, Exmoor and the Mendip hills.
Good café and loos.
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FOUR-LEGGED
FRIENDS
5 miles Go
racing at Wincanton racecourse. It hosts around 17 fixtures of quality
jump racing from October to May and has an average of two
meetings per month during this period. Eight of these race days
are on a weekend or bank holiday.
Wincanton BA9 8BJ.
01963-32344.
www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk. |
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13 miles Longleat is a great day out -
it will take all day to visit the house and safari park where
you drive through enclosures of lions and other animals. You can
take a boat round the gorilla island while throwing fish to
sealions. It is just off the A36 between Bath and
Salisbury (A362 Warminster-Frome).
BA12 7NW. 01985-844400.
www.longleat.co.uk
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| HISTORY
BUFFS & CHURCH MICE |
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19 miles Montacute
is a fine Elizabethan house, owned by the National Trust.
Montacute
TA15 6XP.
Easter-end October.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Pictured left.
14 miles A
visit to Wells should include the cathedral, with its amazing
clock where knights come out to joust. On arrival find the
time of the next free guided tour.
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Next door is the Bishop's Palace with
its moat and famous "wells". In the cathedral
precinct is Vicar's Close, the oldest continually inhabited street
in Europe. In the market place, just outside the precinct,
there are markets on Wednesdays & Saturdays.
www.wellscathedral.org.uk,
www.bishopspalacewells.co.uk.
Below centre: The moated bishop's palace.
Below right: Wells market place.
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| MYSTIC
MEGS |
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29 miles Break
your journey down from London on the A303 at Stonehenge, stop
and look at the stones, and at the visitor centre try one of
their rock cakes.
15 miles Walk up to the top of Glastonbury Tor, and poke
around in the crystal shops in the town. www.britainexpress.com.
Wander round the picturesque ruins and peaceful grounds of
Glastonbury Abbey, the legendary burial place of King Arthur.
www.glastonburyabbey.com. |
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14mls Discover
the magic of Wookey Hole Caves, where nature has shaped a
bewitching underground landscape of fantastic rock formations
and awesome vaulted caverns. Near Wells, BA5 1BB.
www.wookey.co.uk. |
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PARENTS
LET LOOSE
1 mile Drop the children off at Mill on the Brue
Activity Centre, for exciting activities and outdoor pursuits,
challenges and interests. Booking essential. Bruton
BA10 0BA. www.millonthebrue.co.uk |
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SHOPAHOLICS
& TROPHY WIVES
14 miles Shop till you drop
at Clarks Factory Village. A huge selection of famous
brand names all offering discounts of up to 60% off RRP,
including clothing, homewares and accessories.
Street,
BA16 0BB. 01458-840064.
www.clarksvillage.co.uk. |
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6 miles The
Bath & West Showground hosts the famous agricultural show,
and also giant flea markets, antique fairs, train & toy
collectors fairs, classic car shows, classic motor cycle shows,
model making exhibitions, creative craft shows, motor caravan
shows, the New Wine summer conferences and the National Amateur
Gardening Show which includes the National Dahlia Show and Giant
Vegetable Competition pictured below left. BA4 6QN. |
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Check the show dates
on:
www.bathandwest.co.uk.
14miIes Book tickets
at the Octagon Theatre - good shows and good views from all
seats in this modern theatre. Have a bite to eat there
before the show. The pantomime and Yeovil Amateur Operatic
Society shows are recommended. Hendford, Yeovil BA20
1UX. 01935-422884.
www.octagon-theatre.co.uk. |
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For real bright
lights, try the autumn carnivals. The carnival carts are designed and built by dedicated carnival clubs around the West Country.
Entries go from clowns dancing in the streets to 100ft illuminated carts (some with up to 30,000 light bulbs) pulled by
tractors.
Check out this year's dates
on the website:
www.somersetcarnivals.co.uk |
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CARNIVAL DATES
September Frome 10 miles
October Gillingham 9 miles
October Wincanton 4 miles
October Castle Cary 3 miles
October Yeovil 13 miles
November Shepton Mallet 7 miles
November Wells 11 miles
November Glastonbury 12 miles
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BALL
& TRAINSPOTTERS
5 miles Have
a ride on a steam train and visit the engine sheds to see how
they look after their locomotives at the East Somerset Railway.
Enjoy lunch or dinner as you steam slowly through the Mendip
countryside in the dining car, or eat in the station café.
Cranmore, Shepton Mallet BA4 4QP. 01749-880417.
www.eastsomersetrailway.com. |
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Golfers are well catered for in the area.
5 miles Wincanton has a 9 hole course in the middle of the racecourse, and green fees are very good value for the visitor.
www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk/racecourse/golf.html.
7 miles For a full 18 holes try Wheathill Golf Club,
which also offers an 8 hole academy course. TA11
7HG. 01963 240667.
11 miles The nearest covered driving range is at Frome Golf
Club, near Nunney,
BA11 4LJ. www.fromegolfclub.fsnet.co.uk.
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Bed & breakfast, day visits:
Alison & Brian
Shingler
01749-812393
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Gants Mill Weddings:
Greg Beedle
07854-166624
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Gants Mill & Garden
Bruton
Somerset BA10 0DB |
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