📋 Quick Reference
🆓 Free Activities
- Cary Moat, Haddon Park, Wyke Valley, Cadbury Castle (walks)
- Glastonbury Tor (free, open 24/7)
- Ebbor Gorge (free parking)
- Avebury Stones (free to walk among)
🐕 Dog-Friendly
- All local walks
- Combe Hill Wood (off-lead!)
- Ninesprings, Yeovil
- Ebbor Gorge
- Bere Cider Company
🌧️ Rainy Day
- Wookey Hole Caves
- Pottery at Homoceramicus
- The White Spring, Glastonbury
- Caryford Hall Cinema
⭐ Best for Visitors
- Glastonbury Tor + White Spring
- Cheddar Gorge & Caves
- Somerset Cider Brandy (tour £10)
- The Newt
- Stonehenge or Avebury
⏱️ Quick Outings
Under 2 hours, close to home
🐕 Dog Walks
Cary Moat
Peaceful walk around the historic moat in Castle Cary town centre. Perfect for a quick stroll.
Carymoor Environmental Trust
📞 Book ahead
100 acres of nature reserve. Wildflower meadows, Celtic roundhouse.
Combe Hill Wood
🐕 Off-lead Free
62 acres of beautiful managed woodland near Street. Views across Somerset. Optional walk to Admiral Hood monument.
Wyke Valley
Scenic valley walk with steep terrain and views of the orchard.
☕ Food & Drink
At The Chapel
⭐ Top pick
All-day restaurant in a stunning 18th century chapel. Wood-fired sourdough pizzas, seasonal small plates, legendary Sunday roasts. In-house bakery, wine store, south-facing terrace.
Burnt Honey
Australian-style brunch cafe. Excellent coffee, locally sourced food.
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
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.
🥾 Half Day Adventures
2-4 hours
🥾 Walks Worth the Drive
Cadbury Castle
Free
Historic Iron Age hillfort, said to be the site of Camelot. Spectacular 360° views. Moderate climb.
Ninesprings, Yeovil
Free 🐕 Dog-friendly
Country park with man-made waterfalls and woodland trails.
Ebbor Gorge
Free 🐕 Dog-friendly
Peaceful limestone gorge in the Mendips. Three marked trails (up to 3km). Views to Glastonbury Tor.
🧖 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.
🎨 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.
🌄 Full Day Out
Make a day of it
⛪ 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!
🦇 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.
🏄 Bristol
The Wave
Inland surf lagoon. Sessions for all levels.
🪨 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
Impressive spots for guests
The Newt
⭐ Top pick 📞 Book ahead
Gardens, restaurant, cyder. Membership for gardens, or book restaurant.
Somerset Cider Brandy
⭐ Top pick
Tasting tour £10. Great story, 200-year-old orchards, phenomenal views.
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.
📅 Events Calendar
View full calendar with filters →
🗓️ Regular Local Events
Castle Cary Tuesday Market
Fresh fruit & veg, artisan bread, local meats, fish, cheese, crafts
Castle Cary Farmers Market
Monthly farmers market with local produce, live music
Caryford Hall Cinema
Moviola village hall cinema night. Licensed bar.
Alhampton Inn Folk Night
Folk music upstairs at the community pub
🛒 Regional Markets
Frome Independent Market
200+ independent traders - craft, vintage, food, plants
Giant Shepton Flea Market
250+ stalls - antiques, vintage, crafts, food court
🎪 Annual Events
Wassail Season (January)
Traditional Somerset cider orchard blessing ceremonies
- Mid-Somerset Showground - 14 Jan
- Somerset Rural Life Museum - 17 Jan
- Shoemakers Museum, Street - 18 Jan (free)
- Sheppy's Cider - 23 Jan
Glastonbury Abbey Medieval Fayre
Jousting, re-enactment, music, markets
Wells Comedy Festival
10th anniversary edition - top comedians
Show of Hands Festival
New all-ages festival at Gilcombe Farm, Bruton. Live music across woodland & open-air stages. Lady Wray, Submotion Orchestra, Romare. Pottery, sunrise yoga, hot air balloons.
Run the Ruins 10k
Longest Day trail run around Glastonbury Abbey grounds
Party at the Palace
Music festival at Bishop's Palace, Wells
WOWFest
Wells Orchestral Weekend - youth orchestras, choral performances, Carmina Burana. Community chorus open to all.
Night at the Abbey
One-day festival at Glastonbury Abbey. Sophie Ellis-Bextor + more
🎓 Workshops & Classes
Coming Up at The Newt
- 7 Jan - Yoga for Body & Mind
- 8 Jan - Dawn Walk: Winter Quiet
- 8 Jan - Grounding Walk with Chris Giles
- 9 Jan - Yin Yoga & Breathwork
- 10 Jan - Run the Estate with Tracksmith
- 13 Jan - Hort Shorts: Winter Tree ID
The Newt in Somerset
Book at thenewtinsomerset.com/whats-on
Fitness & Wellness (32 workshops)
- 10 Jan Run the Estate with Tracksmith
- 3 Jan, 7 Feb, 7 Mar Monthly Estate Run with Chris Giles
- 7, 14, 21 Jan Yoga for Body & Mind (Jan)
- 9, 16, 23 Jan Yin Yoga & Breathwork (Jan)
- 8 Jan Dawn Walk: Winter Quiet
- 29 Jan Dawn Walk: Four Seasons - Winter
- 5 Feb Dawn Walk: Song of the Snowdrop
- 4, 11, 18 Feb Yoga for Body & Mind (Feb)
- 19 Mar Dawn Walk: Fresh Shoots
Gardening & Horticulture (14 workshops)
- 13, 27 Jan Hort Shorts: Winter Tree ID
- 28 Jan Proper Planning for Productive Plots
- 17, 24 Feb Hort Shorts: Habitat Creation
- 25 Feb Fruit Tree Pruning
- 26 Feb Hort Shorts: Design a Border
- 27 Feb Fruit Tree Grafting
- 11 Mar Peony Support
- 18 Mar Propagation Course
- 3, 17 Jun Gardener & Chef
Food & Drink (7 workshops)
- 27 Jan, 10 Feb Fermentation Workshop & Lunch
- 7, 25 Feb Farm to Knife Butchery - Lamb
- 13 Feb Valentine's Cocktails & Canapés
- 6 Mar Wassail Supper (Members)
- 12 Mar Dinner with Gaz Oakley
- 13 Mar Kombucha Masterclass
Creative & Crafts (26 workshops)
- 20, 22 Jan Herbal Poultices
- 22 Jan Terrarium Workshop
- 20 Feb, 13 Mar Traditional Skep Beehive Making
- 28 Feb Botany Watercolours (Winter)
- 12 Mar Spring Creatures in Willow
- 19 Mar Beekeeping: Build a Honey Frame
- 2 Apr Easter Willow Creatures
- 22 Apr, 2, 7 May Dry Stone Walling
- 9, 15 Apr, 8 May Somerset Safari
- 1, 7, 14 Oct Mushroom Masterclass
- 9 Oct Home Ground Cyder Making
At The Chapel, Bruton
Meantime Events - Talks & Author Evenings
- 15 Jan Anna Whitwham: Soft Tissue Damage (novel about boxing & grief)
- 22 Jan Tim Willasey-Wilsey: The Spy and the Devil (MI6 in Nazi Germany)
- 29 Jan Nick Todhunter: The Epic History of Portrait Painting
- 5 Feb Jenny Knight: Wild Moon Rising (nature & self-discovery)
- 12 Feb Ali Ray: My Nights in the Museum (documentary filmmaker)
- 19 Feb Emma Simpson: Breaking Waves (grief & wild swimming)
Other Local Workshops
Carymoor - Basket Weaving (check website for dates)
2-day willow basket weaving courses in small groups (max 6). Learn stake-and-strand method - shopping baskets, laundry baskets, berry baskets, bird houses. All materials provided.
Bruton Art Society (check website for dates)
Art workshops at Hadspen Village Hall - paper art, wire sculpture, egg tempera, expressive drawing. Contact Sally Ridout to book.
Zumba at Batcombe - Every Wednesday
Every Wednesday 7-8pm at Batcombe Village Hall (BA4 6HE), near Bruton. Term time only.
Pottery & Ceramics
-
Somerset Ceramics (Frome) - 5-week courses, one-day intros, outdoor Raku firing. At Vallis Farm biodynamic community hub.
somersetceramics.co.uk -
Kara Leigh Ford Ceramics (Carlingcott) - Private 2-hour lessons, all materials, firing & glazing included.
karaleighfordceramics.com -
The Thoughtful Potter - Hand-building mugs, flower pressing. Eco-friendly log cabin studio.
thethoughtfulpotter.co.uk
Art & Painting
-
Glastonbury School of Art - Oil painting workshops. £25 for 3hrs, max 5 people. Mon/Fri/Sat.
heavenlypathartgallery.com -
Red Brick Building (Glastonbury) - Weekly mixed-media painting, drawing, landscapes classes.
redbrickbuilding.co.uk -
Lynn Keddie (Frome) - Expressive acrylic painting for beginners. One-day workshops.
lynnkeddie.com
Crafts - Printing & Textiles
-
Narrowleaze (West Coker) - Indian block printing. £25 for 2hrs, £35 for 3hrs. All materials included.
narrowleaze.com -
Lilac Barn - Patchwork, quilting, knitting, sewing courses. Project-based days.
lilacbarn.co.uk
Cooking & Baking
- Robert's School of Baking (Glastonbury) - Bread & pastry days. £125 includes lunch. Max 6 students.
-
The Kitchen Garden - Bread-making & cake courses. £200, max 4 people. Like a day at the bakery.
thekitchengardensomerset.com -
Pony Chew Valley - Bread-making classes, kids' pizza-making.
theponychewvalley.co.uk
Jewellery Making
-
Julia Thompson Jewellery (South Somerset) - 5-hour silver workshops, wedding ring courses in Fairtrade gold.
juliathompson.co.uk -
Christina Oswin (Frome) - 5-week beginner courses, day workshops. 18 Cheap Street.
christinaoswin.co.uk -
Glastonbury Abbey - Silver jewellery with gemstones weekend workshops.
glastonburyabbey.com
Photography
-
Glastonbury Abbey - One-day landscape & architecture courses with Somerset Skills & Learning.
glastonburyabbey.com - Shutterbugs (Glastonbury) - Photography walks & workshops, novice to expert.
-
Alan Ranger Photography - 3-day residential Somerset landscape workshops. £895.
alanranger.com
Music Lessons
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Musical Embers (Glastonbury) - Ukulele & guitar, all ages. 1-2-1 or group, online or in-person.
musicalembers.com -
BMT School of Music (Bruton) - Guitar lessons for kids, teens & adults. Since 2005.
bmtschoolofmusic.com
Dance Classes
-
South West School of Dance (Street) - 60+ classes/week. Ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, musical theatre.
southwestdance.co.uk -
Somerset Dance Umbrella (Wells) - Award-winning dance & performing arts.
somersetdanceumbrella.co.uk
Floristry
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The Bath Greenhouse - Growing, harvesting & arranging cut flowers. Hen party workshops available.
thebathgreenhouse.com -
Fall Into Flowers - Flower arranging workshops & demonstrations across Somerset.
fallintoflowers.com
🖼️ Current Exhibitions
Hauser & Wirth, Bruton
Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely: Myths & Machines - First UK show dedicated to both artists
🔗 More Event Listings
💪 Regular Fitness
Marvel Gym
24hr access
PureGym
24/7 gym with classes
The Club at Holbrook House
Gym, pool, sauna - £20 day pass
🧘 Yoga
Yoga Hub Glastonbury
Multiple teachers offering Ashtanga, Hatha, Kundalini, Menopause Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga. 1-2-1 and group classes.
Yoga Hub Bruton
Hatha yoga, breathing for wellness, pregnancy yoga classes.