Somerset

[Otterlyotterly]

Off to Somerset with extended family over the Easter break with 5 kids ranging in age from 6-6 months. Any reccomendations of things to do or see would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

We stayed at Torre Cider last August if you are anywhere near Watchett. It would be nice even for a visit, cute cafe with playground, can buy food to feed their pigs and goats with, can buy their own cider there!
We ate in the pub in the village too, that was child friendly with playground as well.
There is a zoo and also a farm park nearby, also old railway line you can go on.
If you are not not near Watchett then less help!
Lots of cute village pubs.

The beach at (West? East?) Quantoxhead near Watchet is probably the nicest beach in Somerset. Rocks and water rather than sand though.
You could attempt Glastonbury Tor, although at that age there may well be tears, moaning and flat out refusal to climb further 😬 The White Spring temple at the bottom is interesting.

Whereabouts in Somerset -it’s a huge county! There’s Exmoor and the Minehead-Porlock- Lynton/Lynmouth coast to the west. The moor is beautiful, with Exmoor ponies roaming. Lynton ( or is it Lynmouth?) has a funicular railway and Minehead is a typical seaside town, with crazy golf, fish and chips etc. The West Somerset steam railway runs from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead, though it’s expensive and my boys always found the whole journey a bit long when they were small. The Quantocks are beautiful - Google Great Wood - and the train runs through them too. Then the other side of the county you have Wells, Wookey Hole, Cheddar Gorge, Glastonbury Tor. There’s an open air swimming pool in Street ( Greenbank) and Clark’s Village for shopping. I’ve probably missed out loads, but others will come on, I’m sure.

Where in Somerset is my question too. I live here but South Somerset is very different to minehead or Weston super mare.

Sorry guys more information. We are staying near a town called Mark. Looks like it's inbetween Cheddar and Burnham on sea. Thanks for the info so far hope the location helps with more reccomendations

Lots to do:
Museum of Somerset, Taunton
Bishop’s Palace, Wells
Wookey Hole, near Cheddar
Cheddar Gorge
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Brean Splash
Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury
Glastonbury Tor
Forde Abbey, Chard
Fyne Court, near Taunton NT
West Somerset Railway
Coates Willow & Wetlands Centre
Tropiquaria
Hestercombe Gardens
Ferne Animal Sanctuary
Tyntesfield NT
Tarr Steps
The Helicopter Museum, WSM
Avalon Archeaology
Barrington Court NT
Lytes Cary Manor NT
Montacute House NT
Dunster Castle

And if you’re happy to travel you get to more places in Devon, Dorset & Bristol & Bath.

I wouldn't call Mark a town. Its a small village.
Weston-super-Mare is a good idea if you have kids and fine weather. Although don't try and reach the sea if the tide is out. There is dangerous sinking mud and you could sink up to your neck.

Wookey hole. Weston super mare marine lake is nice this time of year and the pier is fun for kids. Noah’s ark zoo farm isn’t far. Wells cathedral and bishops palace. If you have national trust membership then tyntesfield, barrington court, dunster castle and montacute house are all worth a visit and will have Easter activities on for the kids. Tarr steps is also nice. Haven’t been for years but tropaquaria used to be fun if it’s still open. Brean leisure park. Animal farm adventure park. Wake the tiger in Bristol.

a bit of a drive from where you are but the Dorset coast is also easily reachable and much nicer than the Somerset coast of you don’t mind the drive.

Weston super mare isn’t really a swimming beach even if the tide is in. The current is so strong. If you want to swim go to the marine lake. I’ve swam in it in April before and it’s chilly but ok on a warm day.

You are close to the M5 there but not really close to anything like Exmoor or the pretty parts.

Cheddar caves might be ok, but it’s quite a tourist trap and parking is dire, no public loos, but the caves are worth seeing.

Ditto Wookey Hole.

Avoid Burnham-on-sea, it's an old people's town. It has an OK beach and the shortest pier in English, however it does have really good Indian restaurants.

Cheddar is nice for a day out, there's caves, cheese and the gorge.

The helicopter museum at Weston Super Mare is brilliant.

Dunster is very cute if you can get that far. Lots of cream teas, and a castle. Also a working mill, and a wonderful playground next to a paddle-able ford in the river.

Minehead is nearby for fish and chips and arcades

there is a steam railway with stations at Dunster Marsh and Minehead. I would suggest that one of the adults takes the car though, , not the train, and picks the rest of you up at one of the stations closer to Taunton and the M5 (ie, on the way home)

I liked Dunster village and castle. Minehead. We got a £2 bus from Minehead through Exmoor (lovely) to Lynton/Lynmouth and dc went up the funicular train lift

Mark is a bit of a random place to stay,but not too far you've got:
Cheddar and the mendips generally
The avalon marshes, particularly RSPB Ham Wall is fantastic if you like nature (there's also a centre with a cafe, art gallery and history centre just down the road)
Brean down and beach (2nd longest sand beach in Europe, but big tides)
Yeo valley gardens which is gorgeous and lovely cafe, no play park or anything though
Clarkes village for shopping and massive play park. Also the lido in street.
Wells for history and class
Glastonbury for weirdness
Wedmore for nice food shopping options

Best pubs near Mark are The Sheppey in Godney, The Duck in Burtle and The Swan and The George in Wedmore. If that’s any help 😄. The White Horse in Mark itself is pretty good too - the Sunday roasts are meant to be very good indeed.

Minehead/Dunster are good, but heck of a way from Mark. 2 hr drive at least.

No, it’s only about 1hr 15mins - so not that much.

I checked on my way to Bristol yesterday. Minehead to the Burnham-on-Sea M5 turnoff was just on the hour.

and I’m a Morris Minor, tartan thermos, jaunty knitted cap kind of driver

Puxton Park
Mendip Ski Centre (they do other activities too)
Weston S Mare pier
Wells for shopping/lunch
Cheddar Gorge & Jacob’s Ladder
Glastonbury

Nice walks to be had along Brean beach and along Brean down. Or for a rocky shore and some fossil hunting, head a bit further to Kilve. In the other direction you can explore Cheddar Gorge and Ebbor for fantastic views. Wells is a lovely market town for a stroll and an ice cream. Half an hour up the M5 is the Bristol Zoo project which is a good half-day out. Or Puxton park is fun for primary aged children. Tyntesfield is a large NT and has some great walks through the woods. You won’t be far from Ham wall nature reserve, so worth a visit, though it’s not the right time for seeing the murmurations.