Beer, goats and dry whites
Start with Beer… beach, with its discovery centre and boat trips. Or Lyme Regis for the aquarium and fossil museum. See the show caves at Cheddar Gorge or the goats and pigs at Ferne Animal Sanctuary. Play Taunton Golf Club, walk the Quantocks, tour the cathedrals and abbeys, and pick up a dry white at Oatley Vineyard.
Country kids
Beer might not seem appropriate for kids… unless it’s the beach, with its shingles, refreshment kiosks, discovery centre and boat trips. Or head to Lyme Regis for the lovely beach, aquarium, and fossil museum. Or brave the high ropes, low ropes, and climbing walls at Cannington Activity Centre.
See the racing car that launched Lewis Hamilton’s career at the Haynes Motor Museum. Keep the theme going at the County Classics Motor Museum, with cars from the 60s to the 90s. Hop on a steam train at Bishops Lydeard or Crowcombe Station. Or ride ponies and horses with Quantock Trekking.
Head further afield to see the show caves at Cheddar Gorge, or to Ferne Animal Sanctuary, to meet dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs, and more. Meet cheeky lemurs and European brown bears at The Bristol Zoo Project. Or ride the train, jump on the giant pillow, and meet new furry friends at Wellington Country Park.
Go Ape at Haldon, scatter the pins at Hollywood Bowl, or dodge ancient spirits and uncover lost legends at Treetop Golf in Bristol. Book some river-rafting, kayaking or canoeing with Channel Adventure. Or head to Inspired to create wooden cars, pom poms, lanterns, and baseball caps, or try origami or decorating salt dough.
For the grown ups
Come in summer to enjoy top-class cricket at Taunton, then pop down to the Somerset Cricket Museum to reminisce about a chap called Botham. Play the pretty course at Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club. Or get stuck into some archery, fencing, pistol shooting and clay shooting at Birds Hill Days.
Discover the Museum of Somerset at Taunton Castle, or the military museum, telling the story of Somerset’s regiments during war and peace. Or have a go at woodland crafts, making real hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows around the woodland campfire at Treborough Woodland.
Walk the lovely Quantock Hills along the Coleridge Way, up Cothelstone Hill, or around Hawkridge Reservoir. Take a guided tour of Wells Cathedral or head into Bath to discover the Roman baths, bathe in rooftop spa waters and admire the Gothic beauty of Bath Abbey.
Discover the Jurassic Coast at Durdle Door and Lyme Regis. Find lesser-known, lesser-spotted birds at WWT Steart. Walk with new furry friends at Somerset Alpaca Trekking. Sample award-winning dry whites at Oatley Vineyard or take home cider, apple juice, jams, and chutney at Bere Cider Company.
Happy hens (and stags)
You won’t be short of ideas or fun on site – be it the heated outdoor pool, the tennis court, the games room, the gym, and the karaoke cocktail bar with supersized media screen. Wander the kitchen gardens, plunder the apple orchard, and save some energy for the full-size football pitch.
Sample some premium craft cider from Sheppy’s and enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour punctuated by coffee and cake. Take a tour and come home with tonight’s tipple at Fenny Castle Vineyard or Wraxall Vineyard. Pair up your fizz with a private-chef experience from DineIndulge – pick from Italian, French, Asian, British, or Spanish.
Head to Cadbury Hotel for a massage, body wrap, facial, or nail care. Create gorgeous flower arrangements over tea and cake at Daisy Lane. Take a three-hour sushi lesson with Your Sushi. Or stay at home and let Zara’s Chocolates come to you, teaching you how to enrobe and make truffles.
Shop the curious independents of Taunton and Wellington, or the hidden treasures of Langport Vintage Market. Plot your exit from Shepton Mallett Escape Room. Wrap up your day with Thai food at The Chapel and cocktails at Zinc Bar or Pitcher and Piano.
Or head into Bristol for buzzing clubs such as Basement 45 or Lakota.
