With its historic attractions, beautiful countryside and a wide choice of restaurants, Somerset is your perfect weekend destination.
Day one
To begin your whistle-stop tour of Somerset, head to medieval Wells, the smallest city in England, and marvel at the magnificence of its cathedral, built between the 12th and 15th centuries. For lunch, head across the market square to The Crown at Wells, a medieval Grade 2-listed coaching inn that has been a focal point of the city for more than 500 years.
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- See performances at Wells Cathedral
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- Woolly mammoth sculpture at Wookey Hole in Wells
After lunch, head two miles north to Wookey Hole Caves. A gorge on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills, it contains the most extensive caving system in the UK. Take a tour through the atmospheric caves here, meet the Witch of Wookey and try the many other attractions, including a mirror maze and vintage penny arcade. Cave-aged Wookey Cheddar is also on sale here.
For the view of a lifetime, continue on from Wookey Hole for 1.5 miles until you reach a small car park at Deer Leap. Locals come here to take in the most breathtaking views right across Somerset.
Settle down for a picnic at Deer Leap in Priddy
Continue on from Deer Leap for 1.2 miles until you reach the village of Priddy, 1,000ft above sea level. For a well-earned rest and a hearty meal in a cosy atmosphere, The Queen Victoria Inn is hard to beat. Built in the 1800s, with flagstone floors, huge fireplaces and beamed ceilings, it serves home-cooked food with a choice of ales and ciders.
Day two
Start off your second day by heading to Taunton and the Museum of Somerset for an injection of local history from the ice age to the present. Set in a 12th-century castle, this state-of-the-art museum is home to the skull of the Banwell Bear, an 80,000-year-old Ice Age hunter-killer found in the Mendip bone caves; and the amazingly well-preserved Low Ham mosaic.
Just across the square is the 12th-century Castle Hotel, famed for its fine dining. Former chefs include Gary Rhodes and Phil Vickery. Book a lunch at Brazz, its contemporary brasserie, for a gourmet meal.
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- The majestic Dunster Castle in Minehead
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- Try one of the many great restaurants in Somerset
After you’ve refuelled, follow the A358 from Taunton for five miles to Bishop’s Lydeard station for the train journey of a lifetime. This is where the West Somerset Railway’s steam train sets off. The longest heritage railway in England, it winds past pretty Somerset villages to Watchet on the coast, ending in Minehead. Stop off to explore the stunning hilltop Dunster Castle, or take in some sun, sea and sand at traditional Minehead Beach.
End your whirlwind tour with a locally-sourced meal at one of many excellent restaurants in nearby Minehead before you head home.
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Historic highlights in Somerset
