Somerset

From mansion houses and lush gardens to hidden gorges and eye-catching tors. There's something for everyone to enjoy on a day out in Somerset.

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Chestnut tree and cedar lawn at Montacute House, Somerset

Place

Montacute House

A masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design, with towering walls of glass, glowing ham stone and surrounding garden. While the upper floors of the house will remain closed for 2025 there is plenty to see on the ground floor, and in the garden and parkland.

Exterior view of Dunster Castle and Garden in Somerset

Place

Dunster Castle and Water Mill

An ancient castle and comfortable country home with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens

Fountain statue of a boy with a swan on the lily pond in the Kitchen Garden at Barrington Court, Somerset

Place

Barrington Court

An atmospheric fragment of old Somerset; the estate is the vision of Colonel Lyle, with a glorious garden, farm buildings, orchards and a wider estate. Currently open weekends only until Saturday 9 March.

The outside of Lytes Cary in summer with hedges to the left

Place

Lytes Cary Manor

An intimate medieval manor house with an Arts and Crafts-inspired garden.

A flowering rhododendron with the Pantheon overlooking the lake in the background at Stourhead, Wiltshire

Place

Stourhead

A Palladian house and world-famous landscape garden bordering Somerset. A magnificent lake reflecting classical temples, a mystical grotto and rare and exotic trees are just some of the things to discover.

Tyntesfield House in Early Summer, showing pink flowers and a central flower bed on the walk up to the House.

Place

Tyntesfield

An ornate Victorian Gothic Revival house with extensive garden and parkland, just a stone's throw from Bristol

A man and woman with a dog looking at flowers in the cottage garden at Fyne Court

Place

Fyne Court

A hidden gem in the heart of the Quantock Hills. Explore this wild garden and discover pieces of its history hiding in the undergrowth.

View over the Pasture towards the Palladian Bridge at Prior Park and the city of Bath beyond.

Place

Prior Park Landscape Garden

Beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath with one of only four Palladian bridges found in the world

Coleridge Cottage, Somerset, with cream walls, pale green window frames and doors, behind a low stone wall

Place

Coleridge Cottage

Home of Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Place

Wellington Monument

A striking landmark recently restored, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills. Tours of the monument will resume on 5 April - they are available to book at the link below.

Place

Brean Down

A natural pier with dramatic cliffs and Victorian fort

Place

Tintinhull Garden

A place of floral beauty, tranquility and innovation - a gardener's garden paradise. Re-opens Friday 28 March 2025.

Three children run across the grass at Tyntesfield, Somerset, with the house in the background

Family-friendly places in Somerset

Volunteers climbing down the stairs towards the beach from Brean Down in autumn

Walking in Somerset

Gardens and parks in Somerset

A library with ornate blue wallpaper, a marble fireplace in the centre, and dark wood bookshelves. There are a blue sofa and armchair and wooden desk and chair in the room.

Houses and buildings in Somerset

A stream cutting through Horner Wood on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset.

Countryside areas in Somerset

Dog walking on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Dog-friendly places in Somerset

Visitors sit outside having tea and scones in the cafe tea garden at Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire

Places to eat in Somerset

Ready for a fun-filled summer? Take part in Summer of Play throughout the school holidays, sponsored by Starling Bank, and whether you’re an archaeological amateur or the next Indiana Jones, get stuck into our Festival of archeology celebrations. There's plenty of outdoor entertainment on offer too.

A child wearing heart-shaped sunglasses laughing as another child cups their cheeks, with yellow flowers in the foreground and lots of colourful flowers visible in the background at Calke Abbey garden

Summer of play in Somerset

Ready for a fun-filled summer? Take part in Summer of Play, sponsored by Starling Bank, and create memories with the whole family. However you choose to play, your adventure starts today. And after all that excitement, why not relax with a picnic, find a play area, or visit one of our cafés for a well-earned ice cream?

Festival of Archaeology

The Festival of Archaeology will take place between the 19 July and 3 August 2025 and it's a chance to uncover more about places near you through walks, digs, displays and more.

Explore the Somerset coast from wide open beaches to high coastline walks with far-reaching views.

Bossington Beach, looking West on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Place

The beach at Bossington

From Bossington hamlet on the Holnicote estate you can wander down to the pebble beach, where there's plenty of coastal wildlife to spot and far-reaching views.

A view down towards Middle Hope beach in autumn

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Sand Point and Middle Hope

The stunning stretch of coastline around Sand Point and Middle Hope sits north Brean Down. It's one of the most beautiful parts of North Somerset, with a natural pier into the Bristol Channel.

Place

Brean Down coast

Toward Weston-Super-Mare you'll find Brean Down, a natural pier jutting out into the Bristol Channel.

Discover an ancient castle with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens or explore an Iron Age hillfort repurposed to defend against a possible Napoleonic invasion.

A visitor standing on a platform overlooking Dunster Castle below through the trees, in Somerset

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Dunster Castle

Explore 1,000 years of history at Dunster castle, from its collection of painted leather hangings – the only one of its kind in the UK – to its historic working watermill.

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Cadbury Camp

Sweeping views can be found from the top of Cadbury Camp with buzzards circling overhead, amazing sunsets and a variety of fungi.

Place

Brean Down

Uncover the secrets of Brean Down as you discover the site of a Roman temple and explore the Palmerston Fort.

Get active with outdoor activities at a National Trust place near you in Somerset

Three mountain bikers cycling through the woods with a dog, near Webber's Post on the Holnicote Estate, Exmoor National Park, Somerset

Activity

Webber's Post

Discover where to go for a run or take on a mountain bike ride.

Expand your skills and meet new people when you volunteer with us. You’ll be helping to care for nature and history for many others to enjoy.

Visitors and volunteer in the Great Hall at Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset

Volunteering in Somerset

Whether you help to look after one of Somerset's gardens, give your time to nature conservation or light up the stories of historic places for visitors, you'll find a rewarding role.

Visitors walking through Truckle Wood, Tyntesfield

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Supporter groups in Somerset

Discover what you could get out of joining a supporter group in Somerset, and where your nearest is. Volunteer, meet up with like-minded individuals and enjoy a programme of talks and trips.

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places in Somerset you can visit without a car.

Silhouettes of two mountain bikers riding near Webber's Post on the Holnicote Estate, Exmoor National Park, Somerset

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Places you can visit in Somerset without a car

Whether you’re looking to travel by bus, train, bike or foot, there are many places that we care for in Somerset that you can visit without a car. Here’s a little more information that can help you plan your a car-free day out.

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Event

Summer of Play 2025

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Join us for a festival of play in the garden this summer.

Event

Play croquet on the cedar lawn.

Montacute House, Somerset

Borrow mallets and balls from our visitor reception and have yourself a fun game of croquet. Shorter mallets available for shorter players.

Event

Victorian Kitchen Tours

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Go behind the scenes and into the past with one of the knowledgeable volunteer guides.

Event

Elizabethan Welcome Tours

Montacute House, Somerset

Enjoy a fascinating outside tour lasting around 40 minutes.

Event

Behind the scenes: Attic Tours (Weekends)

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

If you've always wanted to see more of Dunster Castle, come on an attic tour with one of the castle's knowledgeable tour guides.

Event

Afternoon Tea

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

Relax with a delicious afternoon tea at the Watermill Tearoom.

Event

Outdoor Theatre: Robin Hood by The Pantaloons

Barrington Court, near Ilminster, Somerset

Join utter legends Robin, Marian and the Merry Men in Sherwood Forest for a hilariously adventurous take on the timeless tales of everyone's favourite archer.