To help visitors enjoy and appreciate The Quantock Hills in West Somerset, the formidably supportive Friends of Quantock coordinate and promote a regular programme of events and activities that will appeal to all those booking holiday cottages in the Quantocks, ensuring an even more memorable holiday than initially envisaged! There's just so much to discover and love in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Photo credit: Railway Cottage near Bicknoller
Here is what is on offer through August and into September:
Time to Bee Friendly Trail at Hestercombe Gardens. Family-friendly Summer activities from 21st July - 3rd September. More information.
Wildflower Field at Stogumber. Post Code TA4 4JF what3words: ///occupy.months.outgrown. The wonderful wildflower field at Stogumber is open once again, with all donations going to two local Stogumber charities. More information
'Become a Young Explorer' & Story Time at Coleridge Cottage, Nether Stowey. Hosted by The National Trust. Children's trail with a reward at the end available throughout the month, and story time Wednesdays at 12.30 pm for younger visits (3-7 years). More information
Stowey Sunflowers & Maize Maze. Just off A39 near The Cottage Inn, Keenthorne. £5 entry, under 3's free. Enjoy finding your way through the 'Maize Maze' to find the sunflowers where you can pick some of your own to take home (it is worth taking secateurs or similar). More information
Temple of Harmony & Mill Wood, Halswell Park, Goathurst. Sundays 2-5 pm. Hosted by Halswell Park Estate. The Temple of Harmony is an 18th-century folly standing in the corner of Mill Wood, a 19-acre pleasure garden created for Sir Charles Kemeys Tynte on the Halswell Park Estate. Please note this does not include entry to Halswell House and grounds. More information & booking.
Woodland Adventure Days. Hosted by the Woodland Play Centre, Crowcombe Heathfield. Selection of dates in August for 8-14-year-olds without parents to have a day of adventure in the woods, 10 am-4 pm. More information & booking.
Fossil Walks with Geckoella. 15th, 16th & 22nd August from Watchet Visitors Centre. £8pp for adults, £5 for children under 14. Booking required. 01984 632101 or info@lovewatchet.co.uk
One Fyne Night 2023 - 5k or 10k Trail Run. 7 pm Sat 19th August. Fyne Court, Broomfield. Hosted by Channel Events. Utilising the beautiful Fyne Court Estate to deliver an evening 5km course, two laps are completed for the 10km option. More information & booking
Woodland Family Day, 10.30-1 pm Tue 22nd August. Hosted by the Woodland Play Centre, Crowcombe Heathfield. Enjoy a woodland adventure as a family with plenty of fun activities aimed at under 8's. More information & booking.
Hound of the Baskervilles Outdoor Theatre. 5 pm Sat 26th August, Fyne Court. Hosted by The National Trust. A thrilling performance of the classic Sherlock Holmes tale in the grounds of Fyne Court. More information & booking.
Free Family Activity Day at Hawkridge Reservoir. 11 am-3 pm, Tue 23rd August, Hosted by Wessex Water. A day of fun games, activities, and outdoor learning with Wessex Water's education advisers. Learn about how tap water is treated and delivered to your home while also exploring the mix of wildlife found at Hawkridge. More information
Fairfield House, Stogursey. Guided Tours, 2-4 pm Mon 28th Aug-Thu 31st Aug. Guided tours will show the house's main hallway and three principal rooms and give the family's main known history across almost 30 generations. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the gardens at the end of the tour. £7pp under 12's free, proceeds to local charities. More information
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, 4 pm Sat 26th August at Alfoxton Park. Samuel Taylor Colerdige's most famous poem, 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', was first read at Alfoxton Park by Coleridge to his friends and contemporaries, the Wordsworths, 200 years ago. Witness the Ancient Mariner and his story brought to life in Singhamanas' powerful rendition at the birthplace of Romantic poetry. More information & booking
ShoreSearch Kilve Beach, Fri 1st September 11 am-3 pm. Hosted by Somerset Wildlife Trust. Join a team of local volunteers to carry out a seashore survey as part of an ongoing survey of intertidal habitats along the Somerset coast; no experience is necessary, as help will be on hand. More information & booking
Fossil Walk at Kilve. 1.15 pm, Sat 2nd September, Kilve Beach. Hosted by Quantock Hills AONB & Gekoella. A guided walk led by geologists from Geckoella looking at the geology and rock formations along the beautiful Kilve beach. More information & booking
Quantock Quake Mountain Bike Trail Event, Over Stowey. 8.30 am - 4 pm, Sat 2nd September. Hosted by Channel Events. 20-mile or 30-35 mile mountain bike trail event, celebrating its tenth anniversary, is now a well-established event in the mountain bike calendar. More information & booking
Exploring Plankton. 2-5 pm, Sat 9th September, East Quay, Watchet. Hosted by Somerset Wildlife Trust. Sample plankton from Watchet Harbour using a plankton net, then go into the Creator Space at East Quay to look at the finds under microscopes and hear more about why plankton is so crucial to marine ecosystems in the Bristol Channel and beyond. This event is aimed at adults, but families with older children are also welcome to attend. More information & booking
Halswell House & Parkland Open Day (inc Goathurst Heritage Trail). 2-5.30 pm, Sat 9th & Sun 10th September. Open as part of Heritage Open Days. Halswell House will be open to the public, including access to the State Rooms, the gardens, parkland, woodland, ponds and follies. There will be an opportunity to join group walks up onto the roof. The event includes a heritage walk taking in St Edward's Church, Goathurst and the gardens of the privately owned Temple of Pan. More information
The Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festival, 23rd September - 1st October. A celebration of our unique and diverse coastline bringing together walking, music, the arts, food and flavours, performance and a host of activities that showcase this coast of surprises. More information
