Quick Outings
An hour or two, no driving plan needed.
Dog Walks
Haddon Woods
Lovely woodland walk just outside Castle Cary. Good paths, peaceful setting.
Cadbury Castle
Iron Age hillfort just down the road, said to be the site of Camelot. 360° views from the top, moderate climb. About ten minutes from Castle Cary.
Carymoor Environmental Trust
📞 Book ahead
100 acres of nature reserve. Wildflower meadows, Celtic roundhouse.
Combe Hill Wood
62 acres of beautiful managed woodland near Street. Views across Somerset. Optional walk to Admiral Hood monument.
Wyke Valley
Triangle of public footpaths just off Wyke Road. Very scenic with valley views.
Over Lodge Hill
A hilltop picnic with views to Glastonbury Tor. One of several mapped town trails.
Around Castle Cary Town
A short walk around a jewel in Somerset's crown. Explore the town centre and historic streets.
Food & Drink
At The Chapel
All-day restaurant in an 18th-century chapel. Wood-fired sourdough pizzas, seasonal small plates, very good Sunday roasts. In-house bakery, wine store, south-facing terrace.
Burnt Honey
Brunch cafe by day, supper kitchen Fri/Sat evenings. Australian leanings, good coffee, mostly local sourcing.
Osip
⭐ Michelin star
Farm-to-table tasting menus in a 300-year-old country inn. Chef Merlin Labron-Johnson's daily-evolving menus showcase produce from their own farm. Also holds a Green Michelin star for sustainability.
The Station Cafe at The Creamery
Part of The Newt but open to all. British classics, buffalo dairy, beautiful converted railway building.
Quick Drink
The Alhampton Inn
Community-run village pub ("The Ally"). Cosy with open fires, beer garden. Prince of Wales Award 2024, listed in Daily Mail's 100 best pubs.
Wraxall Vineyard
Award-winning English wines. Stunning views from The View@Wraxall.
Farm Shops
The Slow Farming Company
⭐ Top pick
Regenerative family farm. Grass-fed beef, free-range pork, award-winning eggs, dairy, honey.
The Hut at Shepherds Gate
Veg, local milk
King Brain Cider
Organic cider makers - five generations. Taste before you buy.
Wyke Farms
Award-winning Somerset cheddar and farmhouse butter. Four generations of cheesemaking. Visitor centre.
Half Day Adventures
2–4 hours, worth the drive.
Walks Worth the Drive
Ninesprings, Yeovil
🐕 Dog-friendly
Country park with man-made waterfalls and woodland trails.
Ebbor Gorge
🐕 Dog-friendly
Peaceful limestone gorge in the Mendips. Three marked trails (up to 3km). Views to Glastonbury Tor.
Avalon Marshes
1,500 hectares of wetland nature reserves - reedbeds, meres, and meadows. Great for walking and cycling. The Bittern Trail links Glastonbury to the Avalon Marshes Centre (mostly traffic-free). Visitor centre with cafe.
King Alfred's Tower
🐕 Dog-friendly
Circular walk through beautiful woodlands to the 160ft folly marking where King Alfred rallied his troops in 878. Spectacular views over three counties. Returns via Iron Age hillfort. Also has an excellent cycle track through the estate.
Sauna Sessions
Soul Fired Sauna
Shepton Mallet | £12 without membership
Wild Shed Sauna
Bruton
Higher Farm Sauna & Lake
Dilton | £14.15 - includes outdoor swimming
Cider Tasting
Somerset Cider Brandy / Burrow Hill
200-year-old orchards, copper stills, UK's only PGI-protected cider brandy. Walk to the top for views to Glastonbury Tor.
Bere Cider Company
🐕 Dog-friendly
Family-run since 1988. Farm shop, cafe, bar. Open daily.
Southdown Cider
Award-winning artisan cider. Supreme Champion 2019 British Cider Championships.
King Brain Drinks
Organic ciders and sparkling pressés from heritage apples. Five generations of family farming near Cadbury Castle.
Learn Something
Homoceramicus
Pottery studio - wheel-throwing, hand-building, workshops. Beginners welcome.
Southfields School of Pottery
Relaxed pottery classes from taster sessions to 3-day workshops.
Horse Riding
Pevlings Farm Riding Stables
Established 1985. BHS and ABRS accredited. Lessons, hacking, and pony days for all ages. Friendly, safe environment focused on leisure riders.
Clay Pigeon Shooting
The Big Shoot
25-clay shoot with archery combo available. Led by four-time British Ladies Champion. Suitable for beginners, no licence needed.
Rodney Stoke Shooting Ground
Somerset's only CPSA Premier Status site. Novice and experienced shooters welcome. CPSA qualified coaches available.
Rock Climbing
Cheddar Gorge Rocksport
Britain's largest gorge with 100m limestone cliffs and 1,000+ routes. Guided taster sessions for beginners - no experience needed.
Full Day Out
Pack a flask. These deserve the whole day.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury Tor
Free 24/7
Iconic hilltop tower with 360° views. Site of religious significance for 1,000+ years.
The White Spring
Underground bathing temple fed by natural spring. Candlelit pools, unique atmosphere. Nude bathing common. Water is cold!
Glastonbury Abbey
Earliest Christian foundation in Britain, linked to Joseph of Arimathea and King Arthur's burial. 36 acres of grounds, new AR app for families.
Chalice Well & Gardens
Sacred spring and peaceful gardens at the foot of the Tor. Known for its red iron-rich water.
Somerset Rural Life Museum
Family-friendly museum about Somerset life from the 1800s. Features a 14th-century Abbey Barn.
Glastonbury High Street
Eclectic spiritual and alternative shops, cafes, and the Goddess Temple.
Cheddar & Wookey
Wookey Hole Caves
📞 Book in holidays
Show caves, penny arcades, adventure golf.
Cheddar Gorge & Caves
Dramatic gorge (free to drive through). Caves, museum, cliff-top walk.
Clarks Village
🐕 Dog-friendly
Outlet shopping with 90+ designer and high street brands. Up to 60% off RRP.
Shoemakers Museum
Somerset's newest museum celebrating 200 years of Clarks shoemaking. Over 100,000 objects including fossils, factory machines, and social history. Beautiful walled orchard.
Bristol
The Wave
Inland surf lagoon. Sessions for all levels.
Open Water Swimming
Vobster Quay
36-acre spring-fed quarry lake with marked swim courses (330m-750m). All levels welcome. Great facilities, relaxed atmosphere.
Farleigh Hungerford
One of UK's last river swimming clubs. Rope swing, lawns for picnics, changing huts.
River Brue
Wild swimming spots from Baltonsborough to Lovington. Multiple dipping spots along footpath. Cross Keys Inn nearby.
The Lakeside Pool
Heated indoor pool (32°C) overlooking a lake. 12m x 6m, 1.2m depth throughout.
Paddling
River Brue
Gentle current, peaceful paddling from the weir at West Lydford through to Glastonbury (~3 hours). Bring your own kayak, canoe or SUP - no hire nearby.
Golf
Wheathill Golf Club
18-hole par 69 parkland course plus 8-hole academy course. Welcoming clubhouse, practice range. Good for beginners and seniors.
Gardens
The Newt
⭐ Top pick
Stunning estate gardens including the famous parabola walled garden, woodland walks, cyder press, and museum. Restaurant on site.
Stourhead
🐕 Dog-friendly
World-famous 18th-century landscape garden. Temples, grottos, lake, and 2,500-acre estate with Alfred's Tower.
Hauser & Wirth
Free entry
Contemporary art gallery with a Piet Oudolf perennial meadow garden. Peak bloom in summer.
Lytes Cary Manor
National Trust medieval manor with intimate Arts and Crafts garden. Yew hedges, stone walls, peaceful atmosphere.
Tintinhull Garden
National Trust garden rooms with borders, topiary, dahlias. Compact but feels bigger than it is.
Montacute House
National Trust Elizabethan mansion with formal gardens, topiary, and mixed borders.
Kilver Court
Spectacular 1950s rockery with viaduct backdrop, 100m herbaceous border, rose parterre.
Iford Manor
Grade I Italianate terraced gardens by Harold Peto. Sculptures, cloisters, romantic setting.
Ancient Sites
Stonehenge
The famous stones. Book ahead - gets busy.
Avebury
Free to walk
Largest prehistoric stone circle in the world. Walk among the stones.
When Visitors Come
When friends come to visit, these are where we take them first.
The Newt
⭐ Top pick 📞 Book ahead
Gardens, restaurant, cyder. Membership for gardens, or book restaurant.
Glastonbury Tor + White Spring
Classic Somerset day out. Free (apart from parking).
Cheddar Gorge
Dramatic scenery, caves, cliff walks.
Stonehenge or Avebury
Stonehenge for the famous photo. Avebury for atmospheric walk-among-them experience.
Regular Fitness
Marvel Gym
24hr access
PureGym
24/7 gym with classes
The Club at Holbrook Manor
Gym, heated indoor pool, spa bath, sauna and steam room. Day passes available.
Roundhouse Boxing Club
Boxing classes and training
Yoga
Yoga Hub Somerset
Classes at Caryford Hall, Castle Cary. Beginners to improvers. £9 drop-in or £48 for 6 classes.
Candlelit Vinyasa Flow
Flowing yoga linking poses with breath. Energising and grounding. All levels welcome.
Yoga with Lyn
Gentle Hatha, Yin and Restorative yoga in Lamyatt (near Castle Cary, Bruton, Evercreech).
Ashtanga Yoga Glastonbury
Mysore-style self-practice with Jane Piddington. £12/session or £55 for 5 classes.
Red Brick Building
Hatha yoga Saturdays 10:30am in Glastonbury with Andrew Wrenn. All levels. £8/session.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi at Caryford Hall
Gentle exercise suitable for most people. Can be done seated. No previous experience necessary.
Parkrun
Shepton Mallet parkrun
Free
5km on tarmac paths and gravel in Collett Park. Post-run coffee at The Hive.
Street parkrun
Free
Flat grass course at Strode College. Post-run coffee at Strode Theatre Cafe.