Things to See and Do:
Eating
You can reach the Rising Sun Pub via a scenic footpath (1 mile), at the base of the Quantock Hills. In addition, we have the Carew Arms in Crowcombe, the Farmers Arms in Combe Florey, and The Lethbridge Arms in Bishops Lydeard. For fine dining, the Barn at Pod Shavers is just outside of West Bagborough and a complete hidden gem (including lovely outdoor seating). A mere hop and skip from us, you'll find a delicious cream tea (including gluten free) and home made ice-cream every weekend at Brewers Water Farm, Stogumber (all set within beautiful gardens and breathtaking views), as well as Daisy's Tea Room in Bishops Lydeard.
https://www.jandjcatering.co.uk/therockinghorse/
https://www.facebook.com/therisingsunwestbagborough
https://www.thecarewarms.co.uk/restaurant/
https://podshaversrestaurant.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/daisycottageteas/
​
Walking
We are only a mile from the Quantock, steeped in history, which can be reached via a public footpath one field away from our site (taking you past our local pub if you're thirsty!) or by road. Once there, you will experience why it was the first area to be designated an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' and will find both forestry, combes and rolling hills with amazing views of our coastline, the Brendans and Blackdowns. Walk along King Alfred's military road and the Iron Age hill fort; take shelter from the sun in the shady combes with their babbling brooks where you can retrace the steps of Coleridge and Wordsworth; or explore the forestry with some of the oldest trees in Britain. We'd be happy to share with you hidden gems that are a little less trodden also plus have OS maps we can lend out.
A short journey away, you'll find Hestercombe House with its stately home and 50 acres of gardens and grounds (they also have art exhibits).
​
If you'd rather stay closer to home, our campsite is set within 4 acres and includes a woodland walk, a dedicated 'bee bank' planted with flowers to encourage bees to visit, as well as a wildlife pond that is home to fish, newts, frogs and a moorhen, plus visited nightly by two wild ducks.
​
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fyne-court/features/explore-the-quantock-hills
https://www.quantockhills.com/downloadable-walks
https://www.quantockonline.co.uk/tourism_leisure/activities/walking.html
https://www.alltrails.com/parks/england/somerset/quantock-hills-area-of-outstanding-natural-beauty
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/times-walks-great-wood-quantock-hills-somerset-6zf5q50pfk5
https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/somerset/
Family walks: https://afamilydayout.co.uk/quantock/
​
Mountain Biking
The Quantocks Hills are a prime mountain biking area, with varied topography that can challenge even the most hardcore riders. You can experience everything from trail riding on top of the hills, to dropping down into beautiful combes, traversing through ancient Cecil oak woodland or forestry. We would ask that you please respect the wildlife however and DO NOT ride at night or make new tracks. Sadly, our popularity is become an increasing problem for the animals, including driving deer from their natural habitat. We thank you for helping to protect our wildlife.
www.trailforks.com/region/the-quantock-hills/trails/
www.mbr.co.uk/routes/western-england/quantocks/quantocks-gps-route-download-320421
​
Heritage Sites
We are perfectly positioned for exploring many local heritage sites, including Fyne Court and Hestercombe House and Gardens.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fyne-court https://www.hestercombe.com
​
Dunster
Dunster Castle is over 1,000 years old and open to the public. The village itself is also teeming with listed buildings, including an amazing medieval Yarn Market, the remains of a Benedictine priory, a working watermill, Packhorse Bridge and Iron Age settlements. www.discoverdunster.info
​
Nether Stowey
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s cottage still stands in local Nether Stowey and is open to the public. It was whilst living here that he wrote his best work and would walk with Thomas Poole and William Wordsworth (who rented nearby Alfoxton Park).
www.visitsomerset.co.uk/discover-somerset/towns-villages/north-somerset/nether-stowey/
​
Somerset Steam Railway
The West Somerset Railway has 20 miles of heritage railway through stunning Somerset countryside and coastline, making it Britain’s longest heritage line. We can't think of a more relaxing way to take in the varied beauty of the Somerset countryside than via the historic steam locomotives, coaches and wagons, and the ten unique stations. It can be picked up at our local village in Bishops Lydeard.
www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
​
Kilve Beach
Marvel at the fossils dotted along the truly fascinating jurassic coastline of Kilve Beach. www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/point-of-interest/kilve-beach
​
Your visit wouldn't be complete without stopping for yet another cream tea at the Chantry Tea Gardens! Another top notch cream tea.
​
Cleeve Abbey
The Cistercian abbey is said to contain the finest cloister buildings in England, showing what monastic life was like 800 years ago. Although Henry VIII destroyed some of the abbey, the cloister buildings, including the gatehouse, 15th century refectory with its angel roof and 13th century heraldic tiles have survived.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cleeve-abbey/
​
Glastonbury
Not just the home of the festival, Medieval Glastonbury Abbey has held legendary status as the earliest Christian foundation in Britain linked to Joseph of Arimathea and the burial place of King Arthur!
​
Minehead
This Edwardian seaside town of Minehead is on the Great Western Railway line. Minehead beach is perfect for family seaside fun as well as the promenade and its seaside cafés, bars and shops. Walk a little further and you'll come to the historic harbor, which originated as a port in the 14th Century. From here, you can take a trip on the paddle steamer Waverley and motor vessel Balmoral. Blenheim Gardens are also within walking distance of the seafront, together with the main shopping street.
www.visitsomerset.co.uk/discover-somerset/minehead/minehead.
​
Ghostly Quantocks
If history, the supernatural and folklore are your thing, we have it all! From wurt worm, dragons, and haunted Cothelstone (where the gates still stand that were used to hang those convicted by Judge Jeffries, the 'Hanging Judge') to Dead Woman's Ditch and the location of Walford's hanging.
​
The ghost of Johny Walford's murdered wife, Jane, has been seen on the coach road crossing the Quantock Hills close to Walford's Gibbet, the location where Walford's body was left hanging for a year and a day for the crime.
www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/dark-somerset-doomed-marriage-jane-810710
​
https://benchends.wordpress.com/2017/07/01/the-crowcombe-dragon-and-the-gurt-wurm-of-shervage/
​
Jewelry Making
Exmoor Silversmith works in new and recycled sterling silver (including being able to bring you own to have melted down). They offer day courses plus one on one tuition.
Air Experiences
If you'd like to experience our beautiful countryside from the air, then https://airexperiences.co.uk/ offer flights from their site at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, Honiton, EX14 4LG
​