Things to do around Taunton
The advangtage of the Apple Press is that it is ideally located to explore
and experience the attractions of Somerset but also those further afield
without being limited to just one type of hoilday.
The beautiful Blackdown and Quantock Hills - both areas of outstanding natural
beauty - are the perfect place to walk and experience the wildlife on foot,
on bicycle or horseback.
The beauty of Exmoor with its rugged coastline and hidden combes are not to be missed. But you don't need daylight to enjoy the delight that Exmoor offers, having been designated the first dark sky reserve in Europe, there are many places on Exmoor you can observe the night sky and the thousands of stars that are visible to the naked eye.
If you wish to mix literature with beautiful walks and scenery, visit Samuel
Taylor Coleridge's cottage in Nether Stowey and walk part of the Coleridge
Way (51 miles) finishing in the pretty seaside village of Lynmouth.
www.visit-exmoor.co.uk
www.blackdownhillsaonb.co.uk
www.quantockhills.com
Somerset's market town of Taunton offers plenty of attractions too. Home
of Somerset County Cricket, there is an extensive programme during the season
to suit all cricket tastes from the exciting past-paced 20/20 evening matches
to the longer test matches.
www.somersetcountycc.co.uk
The newly modernised and refurbished Museum of Somerset situated in what
was once Taunton Castle, houses some interesting artefacts: shrunken heads,
cauldrons, and the Frome hoard (a display of over 52,000 Roman coins, once
of the largest in Britain) to name just a few.
www.museumofsomerset.og.uk
Taunton has a great variety of shops, coffee houses and restaurants independent
as well as high street chains. The Brewhouse Theatre puts on a wide variety
of performances throughout the year.
www.thebrewhouse.net
Vivary Park is close to the town centre and has a popular high ropes course
and 18 hole parkland golf course that welcomes non-members on a 'pay and
play' basis.
www.toneleisure.co.uk
A regular farmers market every Thursday sells "top quality local produce
to the good folk of Taunton".
www.tauntonfarmersmarket.co.uk
A few miles out of Taunton at Bishops Lydeard is the West Somerset Railway.
A 22 mile heritage railway line from Bishops Lydeard to the seaside resort
of Minehead. Special events are regularly planned such as the Santa Special
as well as the regular steam and diesel trips.
www.wsr.org.uk
The medieval village of Dunster is a popular attraction en route to Minehead
with its yarn market, tea rooms and coffee shops and craft shops. Visit
the imposing National Trust castle and working water mill.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle
www.dunster.org.uk
The Somerset Levels and Moors contain 32 sites of special scientific interest.
It is rich with wildlife and has the largest lowland population of breeding
wading birds. The are a number of footpaths and cycle routes and many outlets
for craft and local produce.
www.visitsomerset.co.uk
If the weather is exceptionally good and you fancy a day at the beach it
is easy to take a day trip to Somerset's north coast or to the coasts of
Devon and Cornwall. If you don't want to limit yourself to one type of holiday,
the Apple Press is the perfect place in the perfect location.