Blessed with two long weekends in May (and a half term if you’ve got school kids at home), there’s plenty of opportunity to take well-deserved break. Whether it’s to the good old British seaside, a theme park, or to a beautiful National Trust property (within an hour’s car drive you have plenty to choose from, as we are well positioned between both north and south coast). May and June are when nature awakens, a wonderful time of year to venture out as the weather is warm but not stifling. Here are a few ideas for your Holiday
/ Short Break with us this spring:
East Liscombe Farm
Enjoy the quiet surroundings of Anstey Mills Cottages. As we are a non-working farm, you can relax in the knowledge not to be woken in the early morning by farming activities, machine noise etc. We let the land to friendly farmers who come around and check their sheep and cattle regularly but never use the farm lane. As we are right on a bridleway, walkers and riders occasionally pass in front of the buildings. And this means you are straight away on a track that leads up to the Two Moors Way. Walk around the farm and enjoy views of for example Dartmoor in the distance from our top fields…or you might enjoy the 1 hr walk to Dulverton, the administrative centre of Exmoor National Park, with its inviting cafes, restaurants and independent shops…and if you are very fit you could walk first to Tarr Steps, the old clapper bridge…equidistant to us or Dulverton with around two hours through varying landscapes
Minehead – home of the West Somerset Railway
Under 40 minutes by car, past the beautiful Dunster with its stunning castle and attractive shops and eateries, you get to our closest seaside town, Minehead. As it is not quite the season for swimming and if you are not looking for good surf (which I would recommend Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton for) here you find the typical buzzing coastal town with lots of attractions, especially for the railway enthusiast and children. This is where you find the official start of the South West Coastal Path and if walking is your thing then I recommend either Porlock with Porlock Weir, the cute villages Bossington and Allerford or Selworthy in the vicinity as points of interest on your way. See below my first ice cream of the season in Minehead.
RHS Rosemoor and other Gardens
For amazing gardens, you are spoilt for choice. This weekend we are looking forward to East Anstey Open Gardens, where neighbours open their garden to all and sundry, with pitstops for café, Prosecco or afternoon Cream Tea. And then there are the Nation Trust Places and other famous gardens like Knightshayes, Hestercombe, Rosemoor, Marwood and Castle Hill Gardens – all between 30 minutes and 1 hour by car. Have a look at their websites, as often there are special events, shows or, as when I last visited Knightshayes, a run/orienteering event.
