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A steam engines pulls its carriage past a lineside holiday cottage on the West Somerset Railway

Step Back In Time With Self-Catering Holidays In The Quantock Hills Villages.

The smattering of little villages in The Quantock Hills have much In common; most tend to have ancient churches all worthy of exploration, an ancient Manor House and a pub boasting a good restaurant menu. The Quantock Hills have long been associated with Wordsworth and Coleridge, who lived in the area for some years. These venerated poets could be considered early self-catering holiday fans, renting cottages in Nether Stowey and probably frequented most of the village pubs, so why not follow in their footsteps?

Bicknoller

Bicknoller has a fine thatched pub (dog-friendly and church) and a village shop on Honey Row Lane. In summer, sit outside to admire the views while you enjoy scrumptious, locally sourced teas and cakes purchased from within.

The exterior of a white-washed thatched village pub in the Quantock Hills

Combe Florey

The Church of St Peter and St Paul is another must-visit location for historic church lovers. Literary lovers may also wish to explore the graveyard to find the final resting place of the novelist Evelyn Waugh.

Crowcombe

A pretty little village worthy of a walk-through to admire its cottages. Historic church lovers will find plenty to observe at the Church of the Holy Ghost. Seek sustenance at The Carew Arms – the village pub with an excellent restaurant. You can travel to Crowcombe by steam train on the West Somerset Railway, although the beautifully restored Victorian time capsule of a station lies about a mile from the village, just long enough to work up an appetite!

A steam engine waits alongside an empty platform at Crowcombe Station on the West Somerset Railway. On the far side of the track the restored Victorian station buildings can be seen.

 

Kilve

Location: On the Somerset coast between Minehead and Bridgwater.

If you thought Lyme Regis had the monopoly on fossil-rich beaches, think again. Dog-friendly Kilve Beach is classic ammoniate territory. The beach is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so the removal of fossils is prohibited: Look and leave! The rockpools are pretty good, too.

When you’re done with the beach, search for the ruins of Chantry Manor and the more gruesome-sounding Dead Woman’s Ditch - an ancient earthwork – to discover the reason behind the name. By now, you’ll be feeling peckish, so for refreshment at the Chantry Tea Gardens in Sea Lane.

Facilities:

  • Pay and Display car park: Be warned—the fines are steep, and the operators appear to be unforgiving if you don’t play (and pay) precisely by the rules (2020-21).
  • Picnic area
A summer sunset on Kilve beach at low tide shows rows of jagged rocks.

Stogumber

This little village, lying on the boundary between The Quantocks and The Brendon Hills, is another picturesque stop on the West Somerset Railway. In the 1960s, The Beatles used it as a location for their film, ‘A Hard Day's Night.’ The village’s High Street leads up to the church and pub (The White Horse Inn). The street is lined with colour-washed thatched cottages popular with photographers.

Triscombe

This small village is perhaps one of the best access points to the wilder parts of the Quantocks, where large stretches of heathland offer panoramic coast and countryside views and ancient woodland awaits exploration. See if you can spot the Bronze Age stone where you should make a wish. From the top, on a clear day, are wide-ranging views of Exmoor and across the Bristol Channel to the Brecon Beacons. Triscombe is the best starting point for a walk up to Wills Neck, the highest point of The Quantocks and with the option of a much-needed drink on the return journey at the Blue Ball Inn.

West Bagborough

Another one of the picturesque clutch of small villages in the Quantock Hills with an ancient church and Manor House. West Bagborough nestles beneath Lydeard Hill. Walk to the top and to be rewarded with a magnificent view across the Vale of Taunton Deane. The village also boasts an attractive playing field and cricket pitch – a good place to picnic while the kids get to play. And of course, it has a welcoming pub, the, recently re-opened and refurbished Rising Sun.

Tree in full leaf partially hide a thatched cottage that overlooks a winding village lane in the Quantock Hills

Scenic Adventures

The Coast walk

 Kilve Beach to East Quantoxhead (and back. 3 miles. A gently undulating walk along the South West Coast Path.

 

The Scenic Drive:

Cross from one side of The Quantocks to the other, driving from Nether Stowey to Crowcombe. It is wonderful to see the vibrant colours of the changing seasons in spring and autumn.

Where to Stay: Find a choice of holiday homes in The Quantock Hills

Choose from cosy thatched cottages for couples to large country houses offering accommodation for large groups.

Book directly with the owner or manager via their websites.