A POTTED GUIDE TO SOUTH SOMERSET


TheRoyalCrescent—ImageCreditMichaelDBeckwith


Discover something different in every town, village and hamlet of SOUTH SOMERSET, with Day Out attractions, historic houses, beautiful gardens, world class museums, arts and craft studios and galleries. There is also golf, fishing lakes, cycle tracks, bridleways, miles of footpaths and much more!


Bruton By the river Brue, this picturesque town has Jacobean Almshouses, abbey remains and the National Trust’s famous Dovecote, above the town. A riverside walk to see the 15th century Packhorse Bridge and the magnificent twin- towered church is recommended.


Attractions also include a small museum with much of the town's history, and the MILL ON THE BRUE outdoor activity centre at Trendle Farm. Nearby, Hauser and Wirth is a world-class gallery and multi-purpose arts centre, with a landscaped garden, restaurant and more for the whole family.


Castle Cary The main centre for a large area of South Somerset, with a wide range of shops, services and free parking. The old part of the town contains interesting buildings like the Market House and the Round House. Chard A rural town with spacious high streets, flanked by two streams. Its history since the 13th century is told in the Chard Museum, which also has the Stringfellow Collection celebrating the inventor of powered flight. Attractions include the Chard Reservoir Nature Reserve with landscaped water gardens and a maze of maize, and Hornsbury Mill with a working wheel. At nearby Wambrook, just a mile or so from Chard on the A30, is the Ferne Animal Sanctuary.


Ilchester Renowned for its Georgian houses, town hall containing a museum and a uniquely shaped 13th century church tower. The 14th century Lytes Cary Manor and Gardens and the hillside villages of Kingsdon and Limington are a short drive away. Yeovilton Near Yeovil, and home to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the largest of its type in the UK.


Yeovil The largest town in South Somerset, with modern shopping precinct (the Middle Street area is fully pedestrianised with a band- stand), outdoor markets, the Quedam experience, fascinating history and enough attractions to fill several days of a holiday.


Despite the business parks and modern industries, the thriving livestock market is a reminder that Yeovil is still a country town at heart, and the surrounding country- side is beautiful, with footpaths to walk and sights to see.


Sparkford A little north from Yeovil, the Haynes Motor Museum is signposted from all major trunk roads.


Near Yeovil there are umpteen vil- lages and towns, all of which will stretch your imagination of yester- year and make you want to visit again.


Barrington Home to the 16th centu- ry Barrington Court House and Gardens.


Barwick & Stoford Where there is Barwick House with strange follies, plus Jack the Treacle Eater and the Fish Tower, arranged at the four points of the compass.


Wambrook, Whitestaunton & Combe St Nicholas


Neighbours to the Blackdown Hills AONB, with Buckland St Mary and the Neroche Forest.


Chiselborough and the Chinnocks Both are picturesque Ham Stone villages. East Chinnock church is famous for its windows, made by German prisoners.


Bridge Farm Cider is nearby, and on the outskirts of the village is West Coker Fen, a Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserve.


Crewkerne There is something of interest for one and all, with the fine old buildings, a magnificent 15C church, a Heritage Centre, art galleries, bookshops and antiques. You can swim at the Crewkerne Aqua Centre or visit the lovely Bincombe Beeches nature trail.


Dowlish Wak The home of Perry's Cider Mills and Rural Museum, John Hanning Speke’ s (discoverer of the source of the River Nile) burial site and also a pottery and craft shop.


East Coker Boasts picturesque 16 and17th century houses, historic Coker Court and the birthplace of William Dampier, the first Englishman to set foot in Australia. The resting place of T.S. Elliot can also be visited. Within walking distance is the Sutton Bingham reservoir and beyond is the Pen Wood nature trail. Hinton St George A beautiful Ham Stone village with cottages dating from the 14th century, and where Henry Fowler lived while compiling the Oxford English Dictionary.


When in need of food or a room, Patrick and Claire at the Helyar Arms offer all the comforts of home.


Martock Home to the Martock Gallery, the 13C church, with one of the finest carved tie beam roofs in Somerset, and the Town Tree Nature Gardens.


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