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Day 1

Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, Mendip Hills

1 Trip item 1 of 5 for day 1
1 Trip item 1 of 5 for day 1

Hike Cheddar Gorge

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 3 hours

Photo by: National Trust Images/John Mill

The view from Gorge Walk at Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

The limestone formation of the National Trust’s Cheddar Gorge isn't just a fantastic destination for scenic walks – it's also home to some of England's largest and oldest caves. Start your day with one of the best walks in Somerset: a 3-mile circular route that winds up and around the gorge, revealing sweeping views across the Mendip Hills.

2 Trip item 2 of 5 for day 1
2 Trip item 2 of 5 for day 1

Get your adrenaline pumping

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Photo by: @cheddargorgeofficial

Two people caving at Cheddar Gorge Caves

Adrenaline junkies shouldn’t pass on the adventure experiences at Cheddar Gorge. Brave a freefall in the Black Cat Chamber, get dirty clambering through the dark caverns during the Adventure Caving course or try your hand at outdoor rock climbing on the gorge’s soaring cliffs.

3 Trip item 3 of 5 for day 1
3 Trip item 3 of 5 for day 1

Sample authentic cheddar cheese

  • Eatery
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Photo by: Good Food Show

Chefs presenting cheese at Good Food Show Summer

Get to know the history and method behind Somerset’s world-famous cheese. Visit a selection of cheesemongers and producers such as the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Co, which offers tours and tastings, guiding you through the cheese-making journey.

4 Trip item 4 of 5 for day 1
4 Trip item 4 of 5 for day 1

Sip on Somerset cider

  • Eatery
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Photo by: Visit Somerset

A wooden box filled with apples in an orchard

Sample Somerset’s most famous export, apple cider, on Thatchers Cider Tour. The family-owned business has been making cider at Myrtle Farm for more than 115 years. Spend an afternoon exploring the surrounding orchards, learning about the mill and pressing processes behind the boozy beverage.

5 Trip item 5 of 5 for day 1
5 Trip item 5 of 5 for day 1

Sleep in an eco pod

  • Accommodation
  • Suggested time at location: Overnight

Hunker down for the evening in one of Cathedral View Glamping’s eco pods, just a stone’s throw from the cathedral city of Wells. Each of the luxury pods comes with a private wood-fired hot tub, perfect for unwinding and stargazing after an adventurous day of activities.

Bruton and Frome

1 Trip item 1 of 6 for day 2
1 Trip item 1 of 6 for day 2

Head underground

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Photo by: Visit Somerset

A family standing inside a cave

Descend deep below ground to marvel at rare rock formations and some of Britain’s largest underground chambers at Wookey Hole Caves. Learn about the prehistoric humans who once lived within these ancient caverns and discover how cave-aged cheddar is perfected 200 feet underground.

2 Trip item 2 of 6 for day 2
2 Trip item 2 of 6 for day 2

Step back in time

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Photo by: Visit Somerset

Landscape shot of a cathedral

Potter around the tiny city of Wells, which is home to one of England’s oldest Gothic Cathedrals. Stroll around the Grade I-listed Bishop’s Palace and its trio of wells. Movie fanatics will recognise many locations from Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz.

3 Trip item 3 of 6 for day 2
3 Trip item 3 of 6 for day 2

Check into the Newt

  • Accommodation
  • Suggested time at location: Overnight

The Newt in Somerset, located a short distance from Bruton, is one of the first hotels in England to be awarded the Michelin Guide’s Three Keys Award. Check into the country estate for a premium rural getaway or simply stop by for dinner at the Botanical Rooms restaurant.

4 Trip item 4 of 6 for day 2
4 Trip item 4 of 6 for day 2

Release your creativity

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Get inspired at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, an open-air art gallery set on a renovated 17th-century farm, home to dapper Roth Bar. Since its opening in 2014, the gallery has influenced a new wave of creatives to flock to the town, with a range of artist spaces, hotels and restaurants opening, including At The Chapel which has a bakery, wine store and eight bedrooms on site.

5 Trip item 5 of 6 for day 2
5 Trip item 5 of 6 for day 2

Go car crazy at Haynes Motor Museum

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Ready, set, start your engines at Haynes Motor Museum, home to the UK’s largest exhibition of cars and motorbikes, with vintage models from the 19th century. Step back in time and appreciate classic cars such as Bentleys and shining Rolls-Royces. They don’t make them like they used to!

6 Trip item 6 of 6 for day 2
6 Trip item 6 of 6 for day 2

Tuck into farm-to-table dining

  • Eatery
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Home to some of England’s best food and drink producers, Somerset guarantees a delicious meal or two. Attend one of the micro dining experiences hosted by Jules and Steve of Horrell & Horrell in their rustic barn kitchen. You’ll get to join the communal meal, featuring vegetables from the garden patch, fruit from the orchard and produce from local farms and bakers.

Glastonbury

1 Trip item 1 of 4 for day 3
1 Trip item 1 of 4 for day 3

Unearth Somerset's folklore

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Photo by: Visit Somerset

Entrance of Somerset Rural Life Museum

Few people know that beyond its world-famous festival, the town of Glastonbury is a destination in its own right. Charms include abbey ruins and the alleged tomb of King Arthur, plus a colourful high street brimming with cosy cafes, vintage clothing boutiques and fairy-folklore trinket shops. Spend an hour or so soaking up the alternative atmosphere.

2 Trip item 2 of 4 for day 3
2 Trip item 2 of 4 for day 3

Enjoy the views from Glastonbury Tor

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Photo by: Shutterstock/robertharding

A dawn view of a majestic cathedral and town panorama

Glastonbury Tor is one of many National Trust properties that Somerset has to offer. Ascend the sloping path that climbs Glastonbury Tor to reach the 15th-century tower ruins at its summit. Learn about the site’s past, entrenched in history and spiritual significance, then enjoy the sweeping views over the county and, on a clear day, beyond to Wales, Wiltshire and Dorset.

3 Trip item 3 of 4 for day 3
3 Trip item 3 of 4 for day 3

Run with the flock

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 1.5 hours

Nothing says countryside like spending time on a farm, or one better, with the animals themselves! Spend an hour meeting the locals on a Sheep Trek just outside of Taunton. Get to know each sheep’s unique personality as you stroll around the remote 40-hectare (100-acre) farmland with your new friend. End the session with homemade cream tea while soaking up the silence and green views.

4 Trip item 4 of 4 for day 3
4 Trip item 4 of 4 for day 3

Stop over at Bossington Hall

  • Accommodation
  • Suggested time at location: Overnight

Photo by: Guy/Bossington Hall

Wide shot at dusk of house and lawn, with view to the beach in the distance, with hills rising from the coast to the left.

Your base here on the Somerset coastline will be the brilliant Bossington Hall, an award-winning bed and breakfast, which offers panoramic views across Exmoor. Check into one of the nine snug bedrooms and settle in for a remote escape.

Quantock Hills and coastline

1 Trip item 1 of 3 for day 4
1 Trip item 1 of 3 for day 4

Hike the South West Coast Path (SWCP)

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 2 hours

Photo by: Getty Images/Mark Easement Photography

Looking across wild heather and gorse towards the coast

Only 15 minutes from your accommodation, you’ll find the sweeping shingle Bossington Beach, which is the ideal place to begin your hike along the craggy coastline of Somerset. Join the 35-mile final stretch of the SWCP, which links Combe Martin to Minehead. Head west to reach England’s highest sea cliff, Great Hangman, which soars over 800 feet! Alternatively amble east to reach the popular seaside town of Minehead.

2 Trip item 2 of 3 for day 4
2 Trip item 2 of 3 for day 4

Step back in time

  • Sightseeing
  • Suggested time at location: 1 hour

Photo by: National Trust Images/James Dobson

Dunster Castle and Watermill

Discover the ancient castle and surrounding gardens of Dunster Castle and Watermill. The impressive castle dates all the way back to the 11th century; later, it became a stately home. Now it’s a National Trust Heritage Site, meaning you can stroll through the terraced gardens, 1,000-year-old grounds and protected surrounding parklands.

3 Trip item 3 of 3 for day 4
3 Trip item 3 of 3 for day 4

Refuel in a cosy pub

  • Eatery
  • Suggested time at location: Overnight

Nothing beats closing out the week with a long walk followed by a hearty pub meal. Head to one of the best pubs in Somerset to complete your four-day adventure. Hunker down inside The Bottom Ship in Porlock Weir, a traditional thatched-roof tavern overlooking the Bristol Channel. Alternatively, if you’re heading north out of Somerset, don’t miss The Talbot Inn, Mells, which serves up traditional British fare starring local West Country produce.

Top Tip - Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza

  • Show

Photo by: Visit Somerset

A doorway in an old monastery building

Missed out on Glastonbury Festival? Check out the annual Glastonbury Abbey Extravaganza instead. The one-day event in early August sees a headline act, special guests, local talent and a dazzling firework display.

Find more things to do in Somerset

Photo by: Anthony Brown / Alamy Stock Photo

A female swimmer standing in the shallows preparing to swim in the a river above a weir with wooded hills in the distance

Find more places to visit in South West England

Explore one of England’s lesser-known national parks, known for its wild ponies, unspoilt coastline and starry skies.

Photo by: Getty Images / Martyn Ferry

A horse wandering through purple heather in the countryside.

Take a three-day walking holiday along Cornwall’s South West Coast Path discovering secluded islands, colourful fishing villages and famous art galleries.

Photo by: Kevin Britland/Alamy Stock Photo

Flower fields leading up to a pretty beach and turquoise sea

Discover the best restaurants in Bristol, immersive museums and upscale shopping in Clifton on a weekend break.

Photo by: Getty Images/Mint Images

Rear view of a man standing on a paddleboard in a harbour at dawn.