Photogenic Landscapes and Historic Sites in Somerset



Aston Rowant
Wells Cathedral
Prior's Wood

The historical boundaries of Somerset, which today incorporate the unitary authority of North Somerset as well as the traditional county, encompass a good range of landscapes, from the wild uplands of Exmoor National Park to the marshes and fields of the Somerset Levels, and the low coastal plains to the high country of the Quantocks and the Mendips. The levels are generally dead flat but are interrupted by a few small, prominent hills, including Glastonbury Tor and Burrow Mump. Exmoor contains the largest undeveloped areas, though smaller unspoilt regions can be found in the other ranges of hills, the most famous single location being Cheddar Gorge in the Mendips.

Most of the countryside is agricultural, however; apart from the isolated high ground, the most scenic landscapes are found along the coast, which runs from Portishead in the north, at the mouth of the River Avon, to the tall cliffs west of Porlock, bordering Devon. Somerset contains over 50 nature reserves, concentrated in the hilly areas.


The northern reaches of the coast have some short stretches of rocky formations, southwest of Portishead and around Clevedon, while a little further along are two scenic promontories (Brean Down and Sand Point, both managed by the National Trust), either side of the popular resort town of Weston-super-Mare. South of here, the coast is largely sandy, or muddy, bordered by low, grassy land; past Brean, around the mouth of the River Parrett and west towards Hinkley Point, but further west the shoreline becomes steadily rockier and more scenic, lined now by dark, bluish-grey cliffs formed of inclined strata. Notable areas include the coast near Lilstock, Kilve, Quantoxhead and Watchet, though it is west of Minehead that the scenery becomes most dramatic, as the cliffs here rise very steeply up to 1,000 feet, above long stretches of rarely-visited beaches and eroded formations. Minehead to Hurlstone Point is one such (five mile) section, while the next is west of Porlock, extending into Devon.

Somerset contains historic sites from various periods including Neolithic, Saxon, Roman, Norman and later, though no category of site is particularly numerous. Of the over 20 castles that were built in the county, only four are complete or substantially intact; the rest have disappeared. The main prehistoric site is the Stanton Drew Stone Circles, the third largest relic of this type in the country, while the best of the early religious buildings are probably Wells Cathedral, Wells Bishop's Palace, Bath Abbey and the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey.



Ancient Sites



Cadbury Camp
Cadbury Camp
Ditches and embankments from a large Iron Age hillfort, on high ground overlooking the Severn Estuary

Rating: ★★★★★
Stanton Drew Stone Circles
Stanton Drew Stone Circles
Three prehistoric stone circles, the largest 370 feet in diameter, and a separate group of three stones known as the Cove

Rating: ★★★★★

Castles and Mansions



Dunster Castle - medieval castle, later converted to a country house, retaining only a small number of original features. Surrounded by extensive gardens, and managed by the National Trust

Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Farleigh Hungerford Castle
Ruins of a quadrangular castle with outer court, plus a chapel containing tombs and wall paintings, and a crypt holding eight lead coffins

Rating: ★★★★★
Nunney Castle
Nunney Castle
Small but well-built and picturesque 14th century castle, surrounded by a moat and overlooking a stream, in the centre of a quiet country village

Rating: ★★★★★

Taunton Castle - 12th century fortification on the banks of the River Tone, reconstructed on several occasions but retaining some original features; home to the Museum of Somerset

Tyntesfield
Tyntesfield
19th century gothic revival mansion with chapel and formal gardens, surrounded by extensive grounds

Rating: ★★★★★

Cathedrals

, and other major churches

Bath Abbey
Bath Abbey
Fine parish church renowned for its perpendicular Gothic architecture, on the site of an ancient monastery; the oldest sections are from the 12th century

Rating: ★★★★★
St Decuman's Church, Watchet
St Decuman's Church, Watchet
Small parish church in a rural setting, some parts dating from the 13th century

Rating: ★★★★★
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
One of England's most beautiful cathedrals; built in a Gothic style, mostly during the 13th century

Rating: ★★★★★

Coastline



Berrow Dunes
Berrow Dunes
Grassy and sandy dunes stretching over 2 miles along the west Somerset coast, partly occupied by a golf course and partly by a local nature reserve

Rating: ★★★★★
Brean Down
Brean Down
High, narrow limestone peninsula along the north Somerset coast, lined by cliffs; site of a 19th century fort and several more ancient relics

Rating: ★★★★★
Clevedon to the River Yeo
Clevedon to the River Yeo
Four mile stretch of the coast; limestone cliffs and some pebble beaches, but mostly saltmarsh and grassy fieldss

Rating: ★★★★★
Hurlstone Point to Porlock Weir
Hurlstone Point to Porlock Weir
Saltmarsh, fields, ruins and a long pebble beach, between two sandstone headlands

Rating: ★★★★★
Lilstock to St Audrie's Bay
Lilstock to St Audrie's Bay
Four mile stretch of the coast, including Kilve Pill and Quantock's Head, with layered, blue lias cliffs above extensive, wave-cut terraces

Rating: ★★★★★
Minehead to Hurlstone Point
Minehead to Hurlstone Point
Cliffs and pebble beaches along a spectacular, little-visited, five mile section of the north Somerset coast

Rating: ★★★★★
Porlock Weir to Glenthorne Beach
Porlock Weir to Glenthorne Beach
Five miles of the Somerset coast; rarely-seen beaches and eroded sandstone formations below steep cliffs and extensive ancient woodland

Rating: ★★★★★
Portishead Coast
Portishead Coast
Low cliffs, eroded rocks, pebble beaches and a lighthouse, along the Bristol Channel coastline south of Portishead

Rating: ★★★★
Sand Point and Middle Hope
Sand Point and Middle Hope
Narrow promontory and elevated headland overlooking the Bristol Channel, lined by stony beaches and eroded rock formations

Rating: ★★★★★
Stert Point
Stert Point
Peninsula between Bridgewater Bay and the River Parrett; sand and shingle beaches, mudflats and saltmarsh

Rating: ★★★★
Watchet to St Audrie's Bay
Watchet to St Audrie's Bay
Three mile stretch of the coast, with layered cliffs, pebble banks, wave-cut terraces, sand/mud beaches and a moss-lined waterfall

Rating: ★★★★★
Watchet to Minehead
Watchet to Minehead
6.5 miles of coastline; complex cliffs and rock formations, giving way to grassland and sand/pebble beaches

Rating: ★★★★
Worlebury and Birnbeck Island
Worlebury and Birnbeck Island
Rocky, cliff-lined beach of pebbles, sand and mud, and a tidal island linked by a derelict pier, on the north side of Weston-super-Mare

Rating: ★★★★★

Landscapes



Blagdon Lake
Blagdon Lake
440 acre reservoir at the foot of the Mendip Hills, formed by a dam across the River Yeo

Rating: ★★★★
Black Down and Burrington Combe
Black Down and Burrington Combe
The highest summit of the Mendip Hills, at the centre of a sizable area of moorland, and a narrow, winding, cliff-lined valley concealing several caves

Rating: ★★★★★
Cheddar Gorge
Cheddar Gorge
Famous limestone ravine at the south edge of the Mendip Hills, containing several caves, and viewable via a 3 mile loop path

Rating: ★★★★
Clarken Coombe
Clarken Coombe
Shady, moist valley at the west edge of the Ashton Court Estate south of Bristol, filled with ancient oak and beech trees

Rating: ★★★★★
Cockercombe and Triscombe Stone
Cockercombe and Triscombe Stone
Wooded valleys in the Quantock Hills, and a section of the ancient ridgeline path

Rating: ★★★★★
Crook Peak
Crook Peak
Rocky summit with excellent views; the most distinctive peak in the Mendip Hills

Rating: ★★★★★
Dunkery Beacon
Dunkery Beacon
The highest point on Exmoor, surrounded by gentle slopes covered with heather and gorse, overlooking Porlock Bay and the Bristol Channel

Rating: ★★★★★
Ebbor Gorge
Ebbor Gorge
Narrow, densely wooded limestone ravine near Wookey Hole along the south edge of the Mendip Hills

Rating: ★★★★★
Hodder's Combe and Beacon Hill
Hodder's Combe and Beacon Hill
Wooded valley and a 1,018 foot summit overlooking the Bristol Channel; in the northern half of the Quantock Hills

Rating: ★★★★★

Nature Reserves

, and similar places

Aisholt Wood
Aisholt Wood
Broad-leaved woodland across a north-facing slope at the end of a ridge on the east side of the Quantock Hills, bordered by a stream

Rating: ★★★★
Aller and Beer Woods
Aller and Beer Woods
Coppiced ancient woodland extending 2 miles along a steep, west-facing slope, overlooking the Somerset Levels

Rating: ★★★★
Backwell Nature Reserves
Backwell Nature Reserves
Badgers Wood and Jubilee Stone Wood; mixed broad-leaved woodland on the opposite slopes of a dry valley, plus calcareous grassland

Rating: ★★★★★
Blackmoor
Blackmoor
Varied habitats including limestone heath, open water and lead mine workings, supporting several rare plant species

Rating: ★★★★★
Brimley Hill Mire
Brimley Hill Mire
Two tree-lined fields containing a spring-line mire, the waters from which flow into the River Culm

Rating: ★★★★
Browne's Folly
Browne's Folly
Ancient ash woodland on steeply sloping ground above the River Avon, plus several old quarries, now colonised by calcareous grassland

Rating: ★★★★★
Bubwith Acres
Bubwith Acres
Small nature reserve on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills; mostly grassland, with some trees, bracken and limestone exposures

Rating: ★★★★
Burtle Moor
Burtle Moor
Wet pasture on the Somerset Levels, lined by ditches and rhynes; good for riparian plants and wading birds

Rating: ★★★★
Cheddar Complex
Cheddar Complex
Three adjacent, contrasting nature reserves across the upper reaches of Cheddar Gorge; Black Rock, Long Wood and Velvet Bottom

Rating: ★★★★★
Clapton Moor
Clapton Moor
Wet meadows on low-lying ground in the Gordano Valley, lined by ditches and rhynes containing a wide variety of plant species

Rating: ★★★★
Dolebury Warren
Dolebury Warren
Varied plant habitals on a northern outlier of the Mendip Hills, including extensive calcareous grassland, plus an ancient hillfort

Rating: ★★★★★
Dommett Wood Nature Reserve
Dommett Wood
Mature oak/beech woodland on steeply-sloping ground at the east edge of the Blackdown Hills

Rating: ★★★★
Draycott Sleights
Draycott Sleights
Nature reserve at the southern edge of the Mendip Hills; good views and over 150 wildflower species

Rating: ★★★★★
Fivehead Arable Fields
Fivehead Arable Fields
Cultivated fields on calcium-rich soils, supporting an usually wide range of plant species, many nationally rare

Rating: ★★★★
GB Gruffy
GB Gruffy
Field of wet, neutral grassland to the north, and drier acidic grassland on calcareous soils to the south

Rating: ★★★★
Goblin Combe
Goblin Combe
Shady, thickly wooded valley below patches of calcareous grassland; the lower end is a nature reserve

Rating: ★★★★★
Great Breach Wood
Great Breach Wood
Mixed woodland on flat, elevated ground towards the east end of the Polden Hills, crossed by paths and tracks

Rating: ★★★★
Green Down
Green Down
Limestone downland across a south-facing slope above the valley of the River Cary; home to the large blue butterfly

Rating: ★★★★★
Hellenge Hill
Hellenge Hill
Calcareous grassland nature reserve on a western outlier of the Mendip Hills; varied wildflowers and long distance views

Rating: ★★★★
Holford Kelting
Holford Kelting
Streamside vegetation and ancient deciduous woodland on the east side of the Quantock Hills

Rating: ★★★★
Hollow Marsh Meadow
Hollow Marsh Meadow
Remote nature reserve comprising a wood, a section of stream and two fields of neutral grassland, with many wildflowers

Rating: ★★★★
Horner Wood
Horner Wood
The largest area of ancient oak woodland in Britain, spread across the steep-sided valleys of Horner Water and its tributaries

Rating: ★★★★★
Leigh Woods
Leigh Woods
Extensive woodland on the west side of the Avon Gorge, crossed by many paths, and home to rare plant species; a national nature reserve

Rating: ★★★★★
Lots Grassland
Lots Grassland
Pasture, hay meadows and boggy heath, on high ground in the middle of the Mendips

Rating: ★★★★
Mascall's Wood
Mascall's Wood
Ancient woodland on steeply-sloping ground on the south side of the Mendip Hills

Rating: ★★★★★
Nutcombe Bottom
Nutcombe Bottom
Moist, shady valley planted with conifers, one of which is now the tallest tree in England

Rating: ★★★★★
Prior's Wood
Prior's Wood
Ancient woodland across the slopes of a limestone ridge, with seasonal streams lower down; especially good for bluebells in the spring

Rating: ★★★★★
Prospect Fields
Prospect Fields
Three fields on steeply-sloping, calcareous ground, with several rare plant species, and good views over the Somerset Levels

Rating: ★★★★
Purn Hill
Purn Hill
Nature reserve on a western outlier of the Mendip Hills, with good views south and towards the coast; home to many plant species, three particularly rare

Rating: ★★★★★
Puxton Moor
Puxton Moor
Part of the Avon Levels; around 70 fields of damp pasture lined by water-filled rhynes containing many species of aquatic plants

Rating: ★★★★
Rodney Stoke
Rodney Stoke
Deciduous woodland, mainly ash and lime, and calcareous grassland, along steep, south-facing slopes at the edge of the Mendip Hills

Rating: ★★★★
Shapwick Heath
Shapwick Heath
Great variety of wetland habitats on the Somerset Levels, covering a large area, 2.5 miles across

Rating: ★★★★★
Stephen's Vale
Stephen's Vale
Secluded nature reserve centred on a stream and waterfall, enclosed by wooded slopes; good for wildflowers in the spring

Rating: ★★★★★
Tor Hole Fields
Tor Hole Fields
Small, little-visited nature reserve of sloping grassland and a few trees, in the Mendip Hills

Rating: ★★★★
Ubley Warren
Ubley Warren
Small nature reserve within the Mendip Hills, containing overgrown lead mine workings, now home to a variety of wildlife

Rating: ★★★★
Walborough and Uphill Hill
Walborough and Uphill Hill
Adjacent nature reserves beside the west Somerset coast: coastal meadows and marshes, and a wildflower-covered peak

Rating: ★★★★★
Walton Common
Walton Common
Secluded nature reserve on a partly wooded ridge, overlooking Gordano Valley and the Bristol Channel

Rating: ★★★★★
Weston Big Wood
Weston Big Wood
Ancient woodland on a ridge between Gordano Valley and the Bristol Channel; many bluebells in spring, and several rare plant species

Rating: ★★★★★
Withial Combe
Withial Combe
Two streams flowing through narrow, wooded, steep-sided gorges, plus a pair of wildflower-rich meadows

Rating: ★★★★★
Yarley Fields
Yarley Fields
Minor nature reserve on the Somerset Levels; two gently sloping fields of rough grassland, where a variety of plants and animals may be seen

Rating: ★★★★
Yarty Moor
Yarty Moor
Rough, wet grassland near the source of the River Yarty in the Blackdown Hills, with many unusual plant species

Rating: ★★★★★

Ruined Abbeys

, and other old religious buildings

Bishop's Palace
Bishop's Palace
Extensive, moated, castle-like residence of the bishops of Bath and Wells, begun in the 13th century; one ruined section, the great hall, but otherwise intact

Rating: ★★★★
Burrow Mump
Burrow Mump
Isolated, conical hill rising 70 feet above the flat, marshy farmland of the Somerset Levels, topped by a ruined, 18th century church

Rating: ★★★★★
Cleeve Abbey
Cleeve Abbey
Cistercian monastery in a quiet, rural setting with many original, well preserved buildings, mostly from the 13th century, plus the foundations of the abbey church

Rating: ★★★★
Glastonbury Abbey
Glastonbury Abbey
Imposing and evocative ruins of a famous and wealthy monastery, established in the 7th century

Rating: ★★★★★
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor
Famous limestone hill topped by the ruined tower of the 14th century St Michael's Church

Rating: ★★★★★
Meare Fish House
Meare Fish House
Two floor building on the Somerset Levels, constructed in the 1330s by the monks of Glastonbury Abbey

Rating: ★★★★★
Muchelney Abbey
Muchelney Abbey
Relics from an ancient Benedictine monastery; abbot's house, reredorter and part of the cloisters, together with extensive wall foundations

Rating: ★★★★★


Map of Featured Somerset Locations