20 Attractions to Explore Near Blenheim Gardens

West Somerset Railway offers 20 miles of heritage railway through stunning Somerset countryside and coast. It is the longest standard gauge independent heritage railway in the United Kingdom. Services normally operate over just the 20.5 miles between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard. During special events some trains continue a further two miles to Norton Fitzwarren where a connection to Network Rail allows occasional through trains to operate onto the national network.

A beautiful wide sandy beach about a mile long, which is backed by a sea wall and promenade. Access to the beach is down short ramps or steps. At the western end is the harbour, whilst to the east the sand continues most of the way to Dunster. Along with a number of hotels and apartments that line the promenade the beachfront is overlooked by a large Butlin’s holiday camp, adding to the lively atmosphere of the resort.

The Yarn Market in Dunster, Somerset, England was built around 1590 and has been designated as a Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument. The market cross was probably built in 1609 by the Luttrell family who were the local lords of the manor to maintain the importance of the village as a market, particularly for wool and cloth.

The National Park Centre at Dunster has been recently refurbished, and you will find interactive exhibits, a video microscope and new displays that introduce you to the special habitats that can be found on Exmoor. Visit the exhibition room and take the time to see our HD film introducing the National Park.

Dunster Castle is a former motte and bailey castle, now a country house, in the village of Dunster, Somerset, England. The castle lies on the top of a steep hill called the Tor, and has been fortified since the late Anglo-Saxon period. After the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century, William de Mohun constructed a timber castle on the site as part of the pacification of Somerset.

Dunster beach is a sandy beach on the edge of the Exmoor National Park in Somerset. The site is a collection of charming historic beach huts, the first built nearly 100 years ago by Lady Luttrell who resided at Dunster Castle. The huts housed Coastal Defence Workers and the Home Guard during World War II with trenches, barbed wire and pillboxes, although now just the pillboxes remain as a reminder of those darker days.

Selworthy Beacon is a hill and Marilyn of Exmoor in Somerset, England. It lies within the boundaries of Exmoor National Park, to the north of the village of Selworthy and northwest of Minehead. A road leads to the top, where there is a National Trust plaque and a view of the south coast of Wales across the Bristol Channel. One of the nice trekking destination and also you can spend some nice time in the middle of nature.

The Holnicote Estate is a large 12,500 acres area of Exmoor National Park, crisscrossed by footpaths along high tors, rocky coastline, fields, villages, woods and moorland. A fantastic place for walking, horse riding and cycling, Holnicote has 150 miles of footpaths and bridleways to explore.

Bossington Beach is an interesting place to explore. Behind the beach is a unique marshland ecosystem which attracts numerous rare species of bird and insect. The beach and the surrounding landscape is a very interesting place, where the shingle acts as a barrier to the adjacent marshland and a number of rare bird and insect species live behind this natural wall.

Dunkery Beacon is a really tough climb from the village of Porlock towards the top of Exmoor. It has a chain of summits capped with Bronze Age barrows and is Exmoor's highest point at 1,705ft. An ideal site for school groups with amazing views overlooking Devon and Somerset and across to Wales.

Cleeve Abbey was founded in 1198, and the first Circestircian monks arrived here from Revesby Abbey in Lincolnshire. Over its 350-year monastic history Cleeve was undistinguished amongst the abbeys of its order, frequently ill-governed and often financially troubled. The abbey remains include a gatehouse, cloister range, refectory with a superb angel roof, and a 'painted chamber' featuring medieval wall paintings.

Tropiquaria Zoo is one of the most unique zoos or wildlife parks in the country. There is a mainly African theme to the tropical hall and aquarium as well as the large number of outside enclosures. The zoo is a member of BIAZA, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and has successfully bred a number of endangered species of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish.

A beautiful little church dedicated to the 7th century Welsh saint, Beuno. The church can only seat about 30 people at any one time, and even that’s a tight squeeze! The original name was Kitnor – meaning ‘hillslope frequented by kites’. The church boasts a Saxon font and carved head that is part-cat, part-man on the north window.

Exmoor is an amazing place, with a different world-class view around every footpath corner Whether your idea of fun is an ultra marathon on the highest cliffs in England or a cream tea by the side of a babbling brook, then Exmoor is the place to be. Exmoor has 34 mi of dramatic coastline, including the highest sea cliffs in England. The South West Coast Path passes along these cliffs and was voted Britain's favourite trail in 2006.

A beautiful reservoir, which is open to the public for watersports, walking and other outdoor activities. Managed by the charity the South West Lakes Trust, the site is promoted for recreational use by the public.

Kilve Beach near Watchet is a fascinating stretch of the Jurrasic coast. Grand limestone cliffs back the slate and shingle beach, with interesting rock formations sweeping the shoreline. The rock and pebble beach is a beloved location for families and children due its scenic views, large grass area ideal for picnics and the nearby Chantry Tea Gardens.

The Tarr Steps is a clapper bridge across the River Barle in the Exmoor National Park, Somerset, England. They are located in a national nature reserve about 2.5 miles south east of Withypool and 4 miles north west of Dulverton. The bridge is 180 feet long and has 17 spans. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The Quantock Hills are an area of wilderness and tranquillity, which offers Panoramic views lead you through coast, heath and combe. The hills run from the Vale of Taunton Deane in the south, for about 15 miles to the north-west, ending at Kilve and West Quantoxhead on the coast of the Bristol Channel. They form the western border of Sedgemoor and the Somerset Levels.

Watersmeet House is a former fishing lodge located near Lynmouth and used today as an information center, tea room, and shop by the National Trust, who have owned it since 1996. It stands at the bottom of a deep gorge at the confluence of the East Lyn River and Hoar Oak Water. The house itself lies on the east bank of the river in the civil parish of Brendon and Countisbury, although the other bank is in Lynton and Lynmouth parish.

Coleridge Cottage is a cottage situated in Nether Stowey, Bridgwater, Somerset, England. It is a grade II* listed building. The 17th century cottage was originally two buildings which were later combined and expanded. The cottage was constructed in the 17th century as two attached buildings. One contained a parlour, kitchen and service room on the ground floor and three corresponding bed chambers above, and an adjoining byre or barn.