|
|
|
South Somerset & Surrounding Area Tourist Attractions, Amusements,
Theme Parks, Walks, Viewpoints, Zoos, etc |
|
This section covers
general Tourist Attractions such as Amusements Parks,
Boat Trips,
Theme Parks, Specialist Shops, Guided Walks, Country Parks,
Viewpoints, Zoos etc.
Not all the
attractions in an area are listed.
If you know of an
activity provider who does not yet have an entry, please
submit the information
here.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
WILLOW & WETLANDS VISITOR
CENTRE
Meare Green Court, Stoke St. Gregory, Taunton,
Somerset, TA3 6HY
Tel: 01823 490249 Fax: 01823 490814
E-mail us
Web:
www.englishwillowbaskets.co.uk
Open Mon
to Sat, 9am -
5pm
|
Found in the heart of the beautiful
Somerset Levels is the Willows and Wetlands
Visitor Centre. Willows and Wetlands is owned and run by
PH Coate, a family business that was established
in 1819.
This famous wetland
area is a haven for wildlife as well as for
basket-making willows, called withies.
|
|
 |
The Coate family today grow over 80 acres of
withies. Enjoying a renewal of interest in
willow products, the family business continues
to weave the withies into a wide selection of
baskets, furniture and garden items in the
traditional manner although the willows are now
cut by machine rather than by hand.
Visitors to this interesting centre can purchase
the willow goods that are hand-made by the
Coate's craftsmen and discover the history and
skill of the willow weavers at the centre's
Basketware Museum. The centre also contains a
display, the Levels and Moors Exhibition, which
highlights the unique habitat of the area and
provides valuable information on the flora and
fauna that can be seen whilst taking a walk
around the Levels. Visitors can follow a signed
walk around the withy beds and, afterwards, at
the centre's Courtyard Tea Rooms they can enjoy
a cup of tea or coffee and a selection of
delicious home-made cakes and light lunches.
 Only partial access can be gained throughout the
centre.
|
|
|
Combe Sydenham Country
Park
Monksilver, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4JG
Tel: 01984 656284 Fax: 01984
656273
Combe Sydenham nestles in a hidden Exmoor
Valley. The buildings give a very special
opportunity to see history restored. The estate
allows observation of unspoilt nature at its
best. Combe Sydenham is privately owned by the
Theed family whose dedication and vision brings
you this unique blend of respect for the past
and determination to provide for the future.
Enjoy a Group Tour of part of the house and
gardens. Listen to the entertaining tales of a
dragon, Sir Francis Drake and the Duke of
Wellington. Explore for yourself the 500 acre
estate with its large herd of fallow deer. Also:
4x4 Introductory - Intermediate - Extreme £50
for three hours. Mountain Bikes: Downhill
courses all ability levels £5 per bike FREE
parking. NACC Events held here.
|
|
GANTS MILL
Gants Mill Lane, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0DB
Tel: 01749 812393
Web:
www.gantsmill.co.uk
Mill & Garden open 15th
May to end September. Sun, Thurs & Bank Holidays
2pm - 5pm. Gants Mill is a unique place. A
restored watermill, set in magnificent gardens.
It is one of the last
working watermills in Somerset, and documents
for a mill here date back to 1290 when the Lord
of Castle Cary granted a John le Gaunt, after
whom the mill is still named, the right to build
a fulling mill. It has been a fulling mill, silk
mill, and a grist mill for grinding corn and is
now generating electricity from water. Look
around the old mill, see the old machinery in
action, and look at the displays of mill
history. Then enjoy the garden with its seasonal
displays of iris, roses, delphiniums, day
lilies, clematis, dahlias, and water features.
|
|
|
Pot
Doodles
73-75 Princes Street,
Yeovil, Somerset,
BA20 1EE
Tel: 01935 429990
Come and have fun
decorating pottery. Choose from over 92 different
blank shapes and decorate a plate, a mug, a bowl,
or a jug using our wide range of over 26 different
glazes. Let your
imagination run wild and design a piece of pottery
you will be proud of.
We also offer fabric painting
of all kinds - from
painting t-shirts, bags, T-towels, pencil cases,
Pants, and much more. We have
also teamed up with local Somerset melamine
manufacturer - Watchet products, so
children can paint pictures at Pot Doodles
and they can be turned into melamine products
from Lap trays to clocks to cheese boards,
chopping boards, table mats coaster and much more
....
Don't worry if you don't consider yourself
artistic we have a wide range of stamps, sponges
and stencils to inspire you and our friendly and
knowledgeable staff are on hand to help.
|
|
[back to top]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brean Leisure Park
Coast Road, Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea, TA8 2QY
Tel: 01278 751595 Fax:
01278 752102
E-mail:
admin@brean.com
Web:
www.brean.com
The largest Fun Park in the South West of
England.
|
|
Jane Austen Centre
40 Gay Street, Queens Square, Bath, BA1 2NT
Tel/Fax: 01225 443000
E-mail:
curator@janeausten.co.uk
Web:
www.janeausten.co.uk
Art, Heritage & Exhibition tour focusing on the
famous writer, Jane Austin.
|
|
[back to top]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ham Hill Country Park
Near Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Yeovil
Tel: 01935 823617
E-mail:
tourism@southsomerset.gov.uk
Web:
www.visitsouthsomerset.com
There is no better place to start exploring
South Somerset than Ham Hill Country Park, with
miles of walks, superb views and a Countryside
Ranger service.
|
|
Yeovil Country Park
Yeovil, Somerset
Tel: 01458 257435 Fax:
01458 257474 Mobile:
07971 111993
E-mail:
katy.menday@southsomerset.gov.uk
Web:
www.visitsouthsomerset.com
The park consists of 40 acres of wooded valleys,
open parkland, grottos, springs, streams,
waterfalls and lakes. Ideal for strolling
through, the park also has a fully equipped
children's play area.
|
|
[back to top]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fyne Court
Broomfield, Bridgwater, TA5 2EQ
Tel: 01823 451587 (Somerset Wildlife
Trust)
E-mail:
fynecourt@nationaltrust.org.uk
|
Nature reserve and visitor
centre.
Formerly the pleasure grounds of the now
partly demolished home of the pioneer
electrician, Andrew Crosse (1784–1855), this
nature reserve is the headquarters of the
Somerset Wildlife Trust and a visitor centre
for the Quantocks. |
|
Fyne Court -
Photo:
Andrew Longton
CCL |
|
|
Aller and Beer Woods and
Turn Hill
From High Ham village take Turnhill Road for 1km.
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Birds, fungus, flowers & scenic views.
|
|
Babcary Meadows
Park at Babcary village hall on North Street and
walk down North Street to Hams Lane.
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Babcary Meadows is a species rich, unimproved,
neutral hay-meadow situated by the River Cary.
|
|
Bishopswood Meadows
Parking for 2 cars, approx 250m west of
Bishopswood Village
Hall.
Walk north along track then footpath to site.
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Species-rich limestone and marshy meadows beside
River Yarty.
|
|
Chard Reservoir
Oaklands Avenue, A30 Chard, Crewkerne Road
Tel: 01935 462462
Web:
www.country-breaks.com
Winter wildfowl, Great Crested Grebes and
woodland species. Wild flowers, trees, fungi,
insects and butterflies.
|
|
Collard Hill
Compton Dundon
Tel: 01934 844518
Web:
www.southsomersetmuseums.org.uk
Unimproved grassland including marjoram and
thyme. Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Striped
Grasshoppers can also be seen in Spring.
|
|
Cricket St. Thomas Wildlife
Park
Cricket St. Thomas, Chard, Somerset, TA20 4DD
Tel: 01460 30111
E-mail:
contact.zoo@bourne-leisure.co.uk
Set in a beautiful valley, an exotic array of
animals and birds are kept in a naturalistic
setting as part of world conservation
programmes. Take a stroll through the woods
beside the lake and see several species of
lemurs ranging freely in the trees. In the
summer look out for parents carrying their
young. Nearby there are large aviaries housing
colourful and unusual birds - the ibis are the
oddest and rarest. Other animals to watch out
for are a pair of very rare Amur leopards and
playful Asiatic otters. Other attractions
include a pets corner and a miniature railway.
Also: refreshments and shops.
|
|
Dommett Wood
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Mature beech woodland with small areas of heath.
|
|
Dundon Beacon
Open access. Park at Dundon village, access from
School Lane.
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Flowers, fungus, butterflies and birds.
|
|
Eastfield Nature Reserve
High Ham
Tel: 01935 462462:
Diverse flora including many species of
butterfly and birds.
|
|
Fivehead Arable Fields
Tonedale Mill, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 0AW
Tel: 01823 652400
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Flowers.
|
|
Green Down
Somerset Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Flowers and butterflies.
|
|
Hardington Moor National
Nature Reserve
Tel: 01733 455101 Fax:
01733 455103
E-mail:
enquiries@english-nature.org.uk
Web:
www.english-nature.org.uk
Wildflowers.
|
|
Jan Hobbs
Tel: 01823 652400
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
County Wildlife Site within the Blackdown Hills.
|
|
Moldrams Ground Local
Nature Reserve
Tel: 01935 462991(24 hours) Fax:
01935 434065
E-mail:
tourism@southsomerset.gov.uk
Web:
www.country-breaks.com
Woodland birds can be viewed from bird hide.
|
|
Old Chard Canal
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Flowers, birds and amphibians.
|
|
Perry Mead
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Flowers and amphibians.
|
|
Prospect Fields
Somerset Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Flowers and butterflies.
|
|
West Sedgemoor RSPB Nature
Reserve
Dewlands Farm, Red Hill, Nr Langport, Somerset,
TA10 0PH
Tel: 01458 252820 Fax:
01458 252184
E-mail:
sally.brown@rspb.org.uk
Web:
www.rspb.org.uk
Grey herons, winter migrants, birds and mammals.
|
|
West Coker Fen
Somerset Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01823 451587
E-mail:
enquiries@somersetwildlife.org
Web:
www.somersetwildlife.org
Flowers and amphibians.
|
|
|
New Members required for this section!
To join or recommend an establishment to Tourist Net UK
contact
us
|
|
[back
to top] |
|
