Explore our Local Area !
Discover sites steeped in history, myth and legend. Enjoy the fascinating heritage of our market towns, fine historic country houses, the internationally important nature reserves and glorious gardens in this unique, unspoilt area of England.
The Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The high ground, lanes and ancient footpaths of the Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have so much to offer the ‘holiday explorer’.
The Mendips are particularly rich in archaeological sites such as the Priddy Nine Barrows or the Stone Circles at Stanton Drew.
Visit the underground world of Wookey Hole caves.
The Somerset Levels and Moors Conservation Area
Looking south from our area of the Mendip Hills you can see the mystical Glastonbury Tor (click for video) standing sentinel over the Somerset Levels & Moors, one of the most important inland wetland landscapes in Britain, if not the world and is a haven to many migrating and resident birds.
This quiet and distinctive landscape is home to a diverse range of wildlife including wading birds, curlews, bitterns, otters, dragonflies and an abundance of wildflowers. In winter over 80,000 water birds gather across the area.
The Levels stretch along the coast and are a clay belt about 6 metres above sea level whereas the Moors are inland flood plains only about 3 metres above sea level.
The Levels are famous for the spectacular Starling Murmurations (click for video) when flocks of thousands of starlings can be seen swirling in the skies at dusk creating their spectacular ‘murmurations’ before diving down to roost in the reed beds. – Surely one of nature’s best and most magnificent sights!
Significant archaeological finds have been made locally, due to the excellent preservation properties of the peaty soils. Most famed amongst these are the Iron Age Lake Village, discovered near Glastonbury, and an ancient wooden causeway, The Sweet Way, thought to be around 4000 years old.
The last battle on English soil, the Battle of Sedgemoor, was fought near Westonzoyland in 1685.
In a few places, isolated outcrops of higher land rise abruptly from the flat land and were once islands in the flooded plains. The most dramatic of these are Glastonbury Tor, Brent Knoll and Burrow Mump.
Fine Country Houses - The National Trust
Within easy reach, there is a remarkable selection of Country Houses open to visitors, most of them managed by the National Trust (NT)
These include stunning parkland gardens at Stourhead (shown here), the amazing Victorian mansion of Tyntesfield, the Tudor house at Barrington Court, the magnificent Elizabethan manor of Montacute House and Lytes Cary Manor to mention only a few.
For further details of local National Trust properties please click on the link below.
Glorious Gardens!
In addition to the many wonderful country houses, the area boasts a remarkable number of beautiful, and in some cases famous, gardens that are open to the public.
These include the garden at Tintinhull (NT) (shown here), the gardens originally created by Margery Fish at East Lambrook Manor and Hestercombe Gardens with its Georgian landscape, victorian terrace and Edwardian gardens designed by Lutyens and Jekyll.
Additionally, Somerset offers one of the largest selections of private gardens open to the public under the National Gardens Scheme (NGS). We are proud to have been one of them.
Cheddar Gorge and its Caves
Visitors have been coming to Cheddar for centuries to view the magnificent limestone Gorge, reaching 500 feet in places.
The ravine boasts the highest inland cliffs in the country that can be viewed from the public road running through the gorge or from footpaths along the top of the cliffs.
Frome
Frome is an historic market town with hidden gems of architectural interest making it a hugely rewarding place to explore.
A walk around the town will uncover parts of the Medieval street pattern, including Cheap Street with a leat (stream) running along its length and the old quarter on Catherine’s Hill is most attractive, with a number of arts and crafts shops, on the cobbled streets.
A Heritage Trail leaflet is available from Tourist Information. at the Library in the market place.
Nunney
Nunney is a beautiful village with much of historic interest.
The centrepiece is the ruin of medieval Nunney Castle, inspired by French castles seen by Sir John de la Mare on campaign. The walls are largely intact and it is in perfect scale with its surroundings.
A Village Trail Guide, available in The Beanacre Barn, is the best way to explore the points of interest including the castle, historic parish church and The George at Nunney, an old character coaching inn, which has an excellent restaurant.
