South Somerset’s Best Kept Secrets, Unwind In Scenic Villages, Enjoy Outdoor Activities, And Taste Local Cider This Summer

Published on August 31, 2025

For a quiet pastoral retreat distant from nan hustle and bustle of nan city, South Somerset is an absolute gem. It is difficult to judge that successful South Somerset you won’t natively find a wonderland arsenic successful nan much developed parts of nan Cotswolds, pinch an added prize of Omnis climb avoiding nan masses. With its aureate Hamstone cottages, quaint villages, lush greenish hills, and vibrant taste experiences, it provides everything needed for nan cleanable summertime staycation.

Why South Somerset is nan Ultimate Countryside Escape

While nan Cotswolds person agelong been considered nan quintessential agrarian getaway, South Somerset is quickly establishing itself arsenic nan champion alternative. Recognized by The Telegraph arsenic a apical contender, South Somerset offers akin charm but pinch a distinct, quieter vibe. The area combines earthy beauty, rich | history, and a thriving section culture, making it an perfect spot for those looking for a serene retreat.

Golden Hamstone Villages: Like nan Cotswolds, South Somerset is location to villages built from Hamstone, a section aureate limestone that gives buildings a warm, honey-colored hue. As nan sun sets, these structures glow, creating a perfect, picture-postcard scene.

Classic English Villages: The villages of South Petherton, Martock, Barrington, and Hinton St George connection a accepted agrarian experience. Winding lanes, cozy cottages, and vibrant flower-filled gardens are framed by rambling roses, creating an authentic and charming atmosphere.

Key Attractions successful South Somerset

South Somerset offers a delightful operation of historical sites, earthy beauty, and section heritage, making it a must-visit destination for anyone willing successful nan authentic charm of agrarian England.

Burrow Hill Cider Farm & Somerset Cider Brandy Company: This area has a heavy cider-making contented that dates backmost centuries. Burrow Hill Cider Farm is 1 of nan region’s oldest and astir respected cider producers, while nan Somerset Cider Brandy Company is renowned for creating world-class cider brandy. These family-run farms connection visitors nan chance to circuit nan orchards, study astir cider-making, and sensation nan fresh, locally pressed cider.

The Somerset Levels: This immense wetland region is celebrated for its divers wildlife and stunning earthy beauty. The Levels are location to immoderate of nan champion birdwatching spots successful nan UK, pinch starlings famously performing murmurations successful winter. During summer, nan wetlands burst pinch wildflowers, attracting a assortment of vertebrate type and providing an fantabulous backdrop for hiking and quality walks.

Ilminster & Surrounding Hamstone Buildings: Ilminster offers visitors nan chance to rotation done streets lined pinch beautiful Hamstone buildings. Take a leisurely stroll done this charming town, wherever you’ll find an array of beautiful cafés and section shops, arsenic good arsenic galore photo-worthy architectural gems.

Outdoor Activities for nan Active Traveler

Whether you for illustration a slow, scenic locomotion aliases an adrenaline-pumping adventure, South Somerset offers a scope of outdoor activities that let visitors to immerse themselves successful nan earthy beauty of nan region.

Hiking & Nature Trails: South Somerset is location to galore hiking trails, galore of which lead done nan picturesque Somerset Levels. Whether you’re looking for a gentle state locomotion aliases a much challenging hike, there’s a way to suit each level. Enjoy nan unspoiled beauty of nan landscape, and support an oculus retired for wildlife on nan way.

Cycling: With its quiet state lanes and rolling hills, South Somerset is simply a cyclist’s dream. The region offers a scope of cycling routes that return you done charming villages, past beautiful fields, and done lush forests. The gentle terrain makes for a relaxed, enjoyable thrust pinch plentifulness of opportunities to extremity for a break astatine a section café.

Canoeing & Kayaking: The Somerset Levels are location to respective rivers and waterways that are cleanable for canoeing and kayaking. Paddle your measurement done calm waters, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and bask nan serene sounds of nature.

Cider Tasting Tours: South Somerset is renowned for its cider-making heritage, and there’s nary amended measurement to acquisition this than by joining a cider tour. Visit nan orchards, sensation a assortment of ciders, and study astir nan history and craftsmanship down nan region’s celebrated drink.

Upcoming Events successful South Somerset

South Somerset offers much than conscionable earthy beauty and outdoor activities—it besides has a lively taste segment pinch galore events passim nan summer. Whether you bask unrecorded music, creation exhibitions, aliases section festivals, there’s ever thing happening to heighten your stay.

Summer Concerts: If you’re visiting during nan summer, beryllium judge to cheque retired nan bid of outdoor concerts taking spot successful South Somerset. The adjacent performance will beryllium held connected September 5, 2025, astatine Hinton St George, featuring section people bands performing against nan backdrop of nan colony green.

Somerset Arts Festival: Later successful nan summer, nan Somerset Arts Festival will showcase section talent successful music, dance, theatre, and ocular arts. The show is simply a awesome measurement to acquisition nan taste vibrancy of nan area while supporting section artists.

How to Reach South Somerset

Getting to South Somerset is easy, whether you’re walking by car, train, aliases plane. Here’s really to make your measurement to this beautiful region:

Nearest Airport: The nearest awesome airdrome is Bristol Airport, located astir 40 miles from South Somerset. This airdrome offers flights to and from galore UK and European cities, making it a convenient action for world visitors.

By Train: Crewkerne Station and Yeovil Junction Station are nan closest train stations, pinch nonstop services from London and different awesome cities. From there, you tin return a short autobus thrust aliases taxi to your accommodation.

By Car: South Somerset is easy accessible via nan M5 motorway. The thrust to this scenic region is itself a beautiful experience, pinch plentifulness of opportunities to bask views of nan countryside.

Why South Somerset is nan Ideal Summer Staycation

Peaceful Villages: Unlike nan Cotswolds, which tin beryllium overcrowded during highest seasons, South Somerset offers nan aforesaid earthy beauty and charm, but without nan hustle and bustle.

Cider and Food Culture: South Somerset’s rich | cider-making practice is 1 of its standout features, and its increasing nutrient scene, led by chefs for illustration Nicholas Balfe astatine Holm, offers seasonal, foraged dishes that bespeak nan region’s produce.

Outdoor Adventure & Scenic Beauty: Whether you’re hiking, cycling, aliases kayaking, South Somerset provides ample opportunities to bask nan outdoors. The region’s rolling hills, tranquil rivers, and wildlife-filled wetlands make it a haven for quality lovers.

Cultural Events: South Somerset has a thriving taste scene, from open-air concerts to nan Somerset Arts Festival, ensuring that visitors person a scope of activities to bask beyond nan earthy beauty.

South Somerset offers nan cleanable summertime getaway for those looking for a relaxing, scenic, and adventurous countryside retreat. Whether you’re into exploring charming villages, tasting section cider, aliases enjoying outdoor activities, this hidden gem is judge to supply an unforgettable experience.