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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.

Places to visit

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Top places to visit in Somerset

Golden sunshine lights up a view of Montacute House, surrounded by autumn trees
Place
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 2023 there is plenty to see on the ground floor, and in the garden and parkland.

Somerset

Fully open today
Exterior view of Dunster Castle and Garden in Somerset
Place
Place

Dunster Castle and Water Mill 

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

Minehead, Somerset

Fully open today
View of green garden borders with purple flowers, and a red-brick building in the background
Place
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.

near Ilminster, Somerset

Fully open today
Morning sunlight coming through the columns of the Temple of Apollo at Stourhead in Wiltshire
Place
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.

near Mere, Wiltshire

Fully open today
Frosty Terrace at Tyntesfield House by Bob Fowler
Place
Place

Tyntesfield 

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

Bristol, North Somerset

Fully open today
The Courtyard at Fyne Court in early autumn
Place
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.

Bridgwater, Somerset

Fully open today
Palladian Bridge decorated with wreaths and garland reflected in the lake at Prior Park, Bath
Place
Place

Prior Park Landscape Garden 

Beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath - reflections restored following a major restoration of the historic dams

Bath, Somerset

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

Coleridge Cottage 

Home of Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Bridgwater, Somerset

Closed now
Wellington Monument, Somerset
Place
Place

Wellington Monument 

A striking landmark recently restored, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills. Tours of the monument have now finished for 2023 and will resume next spring. The countryside is open all year.

Somerset

Fully open today
Brean Down
Place
Place

Brean Down 

A natural pier with dramatic cliffs and Victorian fort

Brean, Somerset

Fully open today

Castles and forts in Somerset

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
Article
Article

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.

A winter view from Cadbury Camp
Article
Article

Cadbury Camp 

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

Brean Down
Place
Place

Brean Down 

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

Brean, Somerset

Fully open today

Coast and beaches in Somerset

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
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.

Somerset

A view down towards Middle Hope beach in autumn
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Article

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.

Brean Down
Place
Place

Brean Down coast 

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

Brean, Somerset

Fully open today

Reopening in spring 2024

View from the Fountain Garden to the west front of the house at Tintinhull, Somerset
Place
Place

Tintinhull Garden 

A place of floral beauty, tranquility and innovation - a gardener's garden paradise. Tintinhull Garden will reopen on 29 March 2024.

Yeovil, Somerset

Closed now
View of the manor house at Lytes Cary, with autumn flowering borders with purples and reds in the foreground
Place
Place

Lytes Cary Manor 

An intimate Manor House with Arts and Crafts style garden. Lytes Cary will re-open on 10 February 2024.

near Somerton, Somerset

Closed now

Outdoor activities in Somerset

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
Activity

Webber's Post 

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

Get involved

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.

Sustainable travel

Looking for greener travel options to the places in our care in Somerset? Find out how you can travel by train, bus, bike or on foot.

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

Sustainable travel in Somerset 

There are a number of sustainable options for travelling to and from the places in our care in Somerset, whether you’re looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot. Here’s a little more information that can help you plan your visit.

Upcoming events

Event

Wreath making at Fyne Court 

Fyne Court, Bridgwater, Somerset

A chance to create some natural wreaths in the beautiful music hall at Fyne Court

Event summary

on
3 Dec 2023
at
10:00 to 13:00
+ 1 other date or time
Event

A Country Christmas at Dunster Castle 

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Minehead, Somerset

We have something for everyone this Christmas inside the castle and in the gardens. Soak up the festive atmosphere and make Dunster Castle a part of your Christmas traditions.

Event summary

on
3 Dec 2023 to 1 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 17 other dates or times
Event

Christmas reindeer round-up at Montacute House 

Montacute House, Somerset

Get your winter hats, coats and boots on to explore. You might find our reindeer anywhere!

Event summary

on
3 Dec 2023 to 1 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 27 other dates or times
Event

Early Years Mondays at Barrington Court 

Barrington Court, near Ilminster, Somerset

Grab your wellies and come for a wander and a play at Barrington Court.

Event summary

on
4 Dec to 11 Dec 2023
at
10:00 to 15:00
+ 1 other date or time
Event

Fyne Court festive afternoon tea 

Fyne Court, Bridgwater, Somerset

A festive treat in the Christmassy Music Hall.

Event summary

on
6 Dec to 13 Dec 2023
at
13:00 to 15:00
+ 1 other date or time
Event

Fyne Court festive lunch 

Fyne Court, Bridgwater, Somerset

A festive feast in the music hall.

Event summary

on
8 Dec to 15 Dec 2023
at
12:30 to 14:30
+ 1 other date or time
Event

Mrs Christmas' Cookie Cutter Trail 

Barrington Court, near Ilminster, Somerset

Can you help Mrs Christmas find her missing cookie cutters?

Event summary

on
9 Dec to 31 Dec 2023
at
10:00 to 14:30
+ 15 other dates or times
Event

Christmas decoration making 

Barrington Court, near Ilminster, Somerset

Join us in the Design Shed to make some seasonal decorations to hang on our Christmas tree.

Event summary

on
9 Dec to 24 Dec 2023
at
10:30 to 14:30
+ 11 other dates or times
Visitors at the Christmas market at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Where will you visit next?

Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.