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Exmoor and West Somerset - Castles, Cathedrals,
Monuments,
Stately Homes & Palaces
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Since the stone age, man has been
creating majestic structures that we still marvel at
today.
Whether you are interested in ancient monuments,
battlefield sites,
re-enactments,
Roman and Norman forts and castles, Stately Homes, Country Houses, Historic
Cathedrals, Ruined Abbeys etc, this is the page that
should give you the information you need.
Here we try to list properties in
private ownership but open to the public (even if only
occasionally) as well as those in the care of the
National Trust or English/Scottish Heritage.
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We know that not all the
properties in Exmoor and West Somerset are listed.
Please help us
make this guide comprehensive by giving details of
missing attractions
here. |
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Dunster Castle
Dunster, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6SL
Office: 01643 821314 Info:
01643 823 004 Fax:
01643 823 000
E-mail:
dunstercastle@nationaltrust.org.uk
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Ancient castle with fine
interiors and sub-tropical gardens.
Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, a castle
has existed here since at least Norman times.
The 13th-century gatehouse survives, but the
present building was remodelled in 1868–72 by
Antony Salvin for the Luttrell family, who
lived here for 600 years. |
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Dunster Castle -
Photo:
Steve Edge
CCL |
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View from Dunster Castle -
Photo:
Crispin Purdye
CCL |
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The fine oak staircase and plasterwork of the
17th-century house he adapted can still be seen.
There is a sheltered terrace to the south on
which tender plants and shrubs grow, and
beautiful parkland in which to walk.
Dunster Castle is home to the National
Collection of Strawberry Trees and Britain’s
oldest lemon tree. |
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Dunster Working Watermill
Mill Lane, Dunster, nr Minehead, TA24 6SW
Tel: 01643 821759
E-mail:
dunstermill@nationaltrust.org.uk
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Fully-restored watermill.
Built on the site of a mill mentioned in the
Domesday Survey of 1086, the present mill
dates from the 18th century and was restored
to working order in 1979. |
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Lovers' Bridge near the watermill -
Photo:
Arjen Bax
CCL |
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Somerset's Finest Hill
Forts
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Cow Castle -
Photo:
Maurice
Clements
CCL |
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Somerset is a region of highs and lows. Along
the middle and northern parts, low coastline
meets the marshy "Levels," while further inland
lie the freshwater and peaty marshlands known as
the "Moors."
Most of this area is no more than 80 feet above
sea level.
Among these expanses of flatlands lie five
ranges of hills: the Mendips, Quantocks,
Poldens, Blackdowns, and Brendons.
The topography here, as anywhere, has played a
role in how the land has been used over the
centuries. |
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Climb a hill
in Somerset
today and
you may well
see grazing
land, roads,
low-lying
villages.
You may also
catch sight
of drainage
channels,
locally
known as
rhynes
(pronounced
"reens").
These are
key to why
much of you
see is land
inhabited
and used by
people
rather than
simply being
watery
marsh.
More...
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The Ancient Yew of
Ashbrittle
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A series of country lanes winding through the
heart of the English county of Somerset lead
to the village of Ashbrittle.
This small village holds an ancient treasure
in its churchyard: a 3000 year old example of
the English Yew, Taxus baccata.
The tree was mature when Stonehenge was in
use, making the 15th century church near where
it grows a youngster in comparison.
As a plaque near the tree declares,
"Generations of local people have cherished
this tree, one of the oldest living things in
Britain."
More... |
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The Ashbrittle Yew -
Photo:
Martin Bodman
CCL |
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HIDDEN CHURCHES OF...
Somerset
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It's hardly surprising that Somerset, that
English county famed for both Bath and
Glastonbury, is one of the best areas to visit
to see a wonderful collection of English
churches.
But the real treasures are the lesser-known
parish churches, still in use hundreds of
years after they were first constructed. Leave
the tourist trail, and you'll find some of the
most marvellous Saxon and medieval
architecture and decoration in the country.
More... |
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Culbone Church -
Photo:
Richard Mascall
CCL |
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Cleeve Abbey
Washford, Watchet, Somerset, TA23 0PS
Tel: 01984 640377
E-mail:
customers@english-heritage.org.uk
Web:
www.english-heritage.org.uk
The most complete and unaltered set of monastic
cloister buildings in England.
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COTHAY MANOR & GARDENS
Cothay Manor,
Greenham,
Wellington,
Somerset, TA21
0JR
Tel: 01823 672283 Fax:
01823 672345
E-mail:
cothaymanor@btinternet.com
Web:
www.cothaymanor.co.uk
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Nowhere evokes the
magic of the past more than Cothay.
Hidden for centuries
it has remained virtually untouched since it was
built in 1485.
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Cothay is situated five
miles south-west of Wellington, off the A38, and
is said to be the most perfect, small classic
medieval manor remaining in England (four stars
in Simon Jenkins England's Thousand Best Houses). The manor is open to groups (20+) by appointment
throughout the year.
12 acres of magical gardens
surround the manor. The formal gardens were laid
out in the 1920's, the main structure being an
impressive 200yd yew walk, off which are many
garden rooms, each a garden in itself. In
addition there is a bog garden with azaleas and
drifts of candelabra primuli, fine trees,
cottage garden, courtyards, and a river walk.
Here there is something for everyone -
herbaceous borders, a white garden, a lovely
terrace and a new garden - The Walk of the
Unicorn. Cothay is at its best from the middle
of May to mid July, when this jewel of a garden,
described by some garden writers as the
Sissinghurst of the West, is in full bloom. 2
Stars in The Good Garden Guide. The
gardens are full of unusual plants and are a
plantsman's paradise. There is a small nursery
where plants are for sale and a tearoom where
you can find delicious clotted cream teas.
Cothay Manor Gardens are open from Easter to
September on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, and
Bank Holidays 2pm to 6pm. Admission is £4.50 for
adults, and Children under 12 £2.50. No dogs are
allowed. Groups are welcome by appointment seven
days a week.
You can find Cothay by following the brown
tourist signs on the A38 from Wellington for 3 ½
miles - 4 miles, when you turn right to
Greenham. Then follow the brown tourist signs.
For further information on our Gardens near
Wellington, Somerset see our website.
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Holnicote Estate
Selworthy, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 8TJ
Tel: 01643 862452 Fax:
01643 863011
E-mail:
holnicote@nationaltrust.org.uk
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Diverse landscape of moor, woods, farms and
coast, rich in wildlife.
The Holnicote Estate covers 5042ha (12,500
acres) of Exmoor National Park and includes
the high tors of Dunkery and Selworthy
Beacons, with breathtaking views in all
directions.
Its traditional cottages and farms are grouped
in and around the villages and hamlets, which
include Selworthy, Allerford, Bossington,
Horner and Luccombe. |
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Selworthy -
Photo:
Chris Heaton
CCL |
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Porlock Bay -
Photo:
Martin Bodman
CCL |
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The Estate also covers 4ml of coastline between
Porlock Bay and Minehead, where the South West
Peninsula Coastal Path begins.
There are over 100ml of footpaths to enjoy
through the fields, woods, moors and villages.
The area is noted for its diversity of wildlife
and many rare species can be found in the Horner
and Dunkery National Nature Reserve. |
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Heddon Valley Shop
Heddon Valley, Parracombe, Barnstaple, Devon
EX31 4PY
Tel: 01598 763402
Web:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
There are many cliff and woodland walks in this
valley running down to the sea.
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To join or recommend an establishment to
us, please
contact Tourist Net UK
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