Bath is the city that surrounds Bath and its dazzling Roman and Georgian culture is the reason why so many visitors come to Somerset.
and Bath is as convincing an excuse as any, however the county also has a lot of points of interest, with charming old towns and towns such as Wells and Frome as well as the many charming rural villages.
The Somerset landscape is rich in legends and folklore and extends to the beginnings of England as a country: It is believed that the Somerset Levels are believed to be the home of Avalon in Arthurian legends, and The King Alfred the Great fled from the Levels in the 9th century to plan his strategy to counter the invasion of Vikings.
Exmoor located in west Devon is the west-facing Exmoor National Park with meadows, heather and old woodlands on hills that climb to 500m.
Let’s take a look at the best destinations to visit within Somerset:
1. Bath
When you believe that the Romans were the first to discover Bath but it was Georgians who perfected the concept by turning this city into the luxurious resort of the early 1700s.
Despite the stunning design of this period, the main attraction of Bath lies in the Roman bathing area that was constructed around 1,800 years prior to the Roman bathing complex.
The Roman Baths are one of the attractions that people travel to England to visit, and for an Roman site , the degree of preservation is not common in Britain and is made possible with Victorian reconstructions.
The museum in this complex contains a treasure-trove of amazing artifacts. The second phase of glory began at the end of the 1800s, when the stunning Royal Crescent was just one of the many magnificent designs. Jane Austen set Northanger Abbey as well as portions of Persuasion in Bath following her visit around the 19th century.
2. Wells
The city with the smallest population in England may also be among its most romantic, since Wells is home to some amazing landmarks for a town that has just 10,000 inhabitants.
The most renowned landmark of beauty is Wells Cathedral, a building with unrivalled historical importance and aesthetics.
The construction was started around the 12th century which is different from other church of the same time period, Wells Cathedral has no traces of Norman romanesque architecture, which means it is the first gothic structure, not only in England but maybe even in the world.
The entire church’s ecclesiastical structures are still in use which means you can view the magnificent 13th century Bishop’s Palace and the historic Vicar’s Close, remarkable for being a planned residential road unchanged from the early 1300s.
3. Exmoor
A large portion part of Exmoor National Park is inside the borders of Somerset and covers a large area of the western portion of Somerset.
In the north, the hills rise up to the Bristol Channel in dramatic fashion and form the highest sea cliffs of the country, with brutal deep sandstone walls. The interior is steep hills covered in heather, which plunges into valleys of shady peaks that house old woodland.
There are small medieval villages and hamlets that have pubs. In between are vast, uninhabited areas in which semi-wild sheep and sheep roam. Exmoor ponies are seen grazing on the hillsides. Large red deer are an everyday sight.
4. Weston-super-Mare
In the Bristol Channel, Weston-super-Mare is an archetypal Victorian seaside resort.
Its advantages today remain the same as they were 100 years ago: There’s the ocean large beach that extends in a long distance at low tide, and two piers with a history One of them (the Grand Pier) has been restored following an incident in 2008. The warm summer days are when the attraction of Weston-super-Mare is most evident and children will enjoy the donkey rides, amusements as well as the traditional pleasure of building sandcastles along the beach.
Other times, it’s a good idea to breathe in a fresh breath of fresh sea air and also to admire the Victorian architectural style, which is made up of a creamy limestone quarry in the village of Uphill close to the beach.
5. Glastonbury
For the 51 days of the entire year Glastonbury is a quaint old village that has a fascinating local history.
Glastonbury Tor is a monumental stone hill, with the 15th-century St Michael’s Tower at its top and is the final remains of a long, ruined church.
Glastonbury Abbey was founded at the end of the 7th century, and was dissolved by the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.
The final abbot, well , he was hung, dragged and quartered at Glastonbury Tor in 1539. On the positive side, the other week in the year is during June, when one of the most important performing arts festivals takes place at the Michael Eavis’s dairy farm.
6. Cheddar
The southern part of the Mendip Hills, Cheddar is an idyllic village surrounded by strawberries and has some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in Britain right in its backyard.
Cheddar Gorge Cheddar Gorge is one of the biggest in the nation, with a drop of to almost 140m at its deepest areas. The limestone is full of caves and old quarries can be visited as well as it was in this area that the oldest human skeleton was discovered dating back to 9,000 years ago.
It’s been a long time since we’ve even talking about cheddar cheese, which originated in the village of this one and is typically kept in caves until it is get to.
Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company can be an absolute must-see, and also sells the only cheddar that is still manufactured in Cheddar!
7. Frome
Walking through the streets of Frome could be quite addictive There are more than 500 heritage buildings listed in the town, and some are that date back to the 15th century.
Catherine Hill should be the first stop on your list The hill is steep and rises from the old centre, featuring locally owned cafes and shops on both side, and all set in gorgeous stone buildings. In the 17th century, cloth and wool were the mainstays of local trade There are a number of cottages and streets built to accommodate millworkers in the Trinity area, which includes one of England’s most historic industrial housing.
A few minutes southwest of Frome are the impressive ruin that are Nunney Castle, which was destroyed and abandoned in the English Civil War but with an impressive amount of details that are still in place and still enclosed by moat.
8. Bridgwater
Enjoying the best riding on through the River Parrett, about ten miles from where the river is a tidal one, which flows into it into the Bristol Channel, Bridgwater’s location has created a hotspot to trade and manufacture for centuries.
Bridgwater was the place of birth for General Sea Robert Blake in 1598 He was considered to be one of the most famous military commanders. The house that he was born in is now a museum that focuses on his career and also portrays daily life in town of during the 16th and 17th century.
Visit the sites in the central area, including The 13th century Church of St Mary, and the 18th-century Corn Exchange, which has an unusual portico that is circular.
9. Somerton
This was the town of the county for a short time in the 1300s. It could also be the capital city of the kingdom of Wessex in the 10th century. Today, it’s a city with fewer than 5,000 residents and yet you’ll find it difficult to find a more beautiful location for a peaceful country getaway. A majority of the old-fashioned buildings in Somerton is built using blue lias stone. It is beautiful and rustic.
Almshouses from the 17th century are easy to find and they are located in the Church of St Michael has an exterior with dragons and cider barrels in it, believed to have been carved by monks from Muchelney Abbey in medieval times.
The same blue lias, is Lytes Cary, a breathtaking manor house that has parts dating back to the 1300s.
10. Taunton
As with other towns within Somerset, Taunton was vital to the Saxons who built this fortress during the 7th century, where today Taunton Castle sits. This particular landmark is believed to have Norman roots, but it changed in the 1700s and the Great Hall now houses the Museum of Somerset.
There are some enthralling pieces of Somerset’s rich history such as an impressive Roman mosaic discovered in The Low Ham Villa and the Froome Hoard, consisting of more than 52,500 coins dating from the 3rd and 4th century.
Take a day trip to Hestercombe House, which has stunning gardens designed that are in the French style, featuring pergolas and a parterre.
