Leisure Activities in Somerset

Somerset lends itself to all kinds of outdoor activities. Its wide open spaces and beautiful countryside make it a popular walking destination and there are several long distance walking trails around the main Somerset Hills as well as coastal walks. For outdoor leisure pursuits Somerset is a superb location, particularly for rock climbing, caving, walking, cycling, pony trekking in the Mendip Hills, Somerset Levels, Quantocks and Exmoor. The rivers of Exmoor are great for canoeing, angling/fishing and kayaking. The Somerset countryside and coast offers a range of nature reserves and birdwatching hotspots and you can pick up the long distance South West Coast Path from Somerset and continue through Devon, Cornwall and Dorset if you're up for it!

Accommodation across Somerset caters well for visitors looking for outdoor leisure and adventure activity holidays. Watch out for the English Tourist Board Walkers and Cyclists Welcome symbols (square symbols). This indicated that the accommodation, whether B&B, hotel, guest house, holiday cottage or hostel/activity centre has special features for walkers and cyclists. These could include drying facilities for wet clothes and boots, secure locking areas for bikes, and packed lunches available.

There is a good choice of Somerset accommodation for outdoor leisure/adventure activity holidays, including a choice of self catering holiday cottages in Exmoor and the Mendips area as well as the Somerset Levels and Quantock Hills. Plenty of bed and breakfasts are to be found around the Somerset countryside, many displaying the walker and cyclist symbol. There's a good choice of both youth hostels and independent cheap hostels in Somerset offering a real choice of budget outdoor activity accommodation. Alternatively choose one of the outdoor activity adventure holiday centres with in-house accommodation and tuition in your chosen activity whether it be rock climbing or caving in Cheddar and the Mendips.

Somerset Beach Holidays

Somerset's beaches are invariably sandy and extremely long. Certainly around Weston-super-Mare and down the coast to Burnham-on-Sea you'll find plenty of sand but perhaps not so much sea! The tide goes out so far that you may not be paddling or jumping the waves that often. These huge beaches are often graded in different areas for different pastimes, for example a dog friendly beach and a family friendly beach. Weston-super-Mare's beaches are also the location for big events like the annual Weston Beach Race and Channel 4's T4 on the Beach programme. The beaches at Clevedon, Minehead, Watchet and Porlock Weir are more pebbly but are no less attractive. There are some great places along the coast for birdwatching as Bridgwater Bay is a popular haunt of waders and wildfowl in both winter and summer.

You'll find a great choice of hotel and bed and breakfast guest house accommodation around Somerset's seaside resorts as well as caravan and camping parks and family holiday parks, particularly around Brean, the family entertainment capital of Somerset.

Somerset Walking and Cycling Holidays

Somerset is criss-crossed with walking trails, both circular walks and long distance trails. The River Parrett Trail runs right through Somerset from Dorset and up to the Somerset coast. The Coleridge Way traces the poet's steps that he is believed to have taken on inspirational walks through the Quantock Hills. The huge South West Coast Path starts in Somerset at Minehead and traces the Exmoor coast before entering Devon and carrying on around the whole South West coast. You can find a good range of accommodation to stop off if you're planning a walking holiday along the long distance routes or base yourself in Somerset towns and villages and pick off parts of the longer routes.

For more active outdoor pursuits mountain bike trails are being established in the Mendips and Exmoor in particular. With Sustrans being based in Bristol there is an increasing network of cycle routes throughout the county. Caving and climbing is very popular in the Mendips where the limestone rocks lend themselves to some fabulous underground discoveries. There is a wealth of self catering accommodation for couples, families or groups which can be better for those who want to do their own thing rather than be tied to meal times. Alternatively if you fancy a soak in a hot tub after a hard day's biking try one of the many luxury Somerset leisure hotels or bed and breakfasts with leisure facilities to ease away those aches and pains!

Family Holiday Parks, Camp Sites and Caravan Parks in Somerset

Caravan Parks and Campsites as a Somerset outdoor leisure holiday option are truly alive and kicking, ideal for families working on tight holiday budgets who are looking for that all-inclusive bit of magic to keep the kids occupied, plus the freedom to roam and create your own timetable. Find Somerset Caravan & Camping Parks all around the region but particularly in and around the Somerset coast, Cheddar and the Mendips Exmoor and south Somerset.

Choose one of Somerset's all inclusive family holiday parks or caravan parks - check out the choice on the Somerset Coast particularly at Brean. Great entertainment for the kids here in caravan and holiday parks with facilities like heated splash pools, table tennis and toddlers play areas, bike hires, crazy golf, barbeques and in-house entertainment nights.

Caravan and holiday parks in Somerset make a superb outdoor activity base for families, often with indoor swimming pools, kids clubs and kids adventure playgrounds on-site. In Somerset you'll also find caravan and camping parks for over 18's only which can be good for active outdoor groups who want to do their own thing without the kids!

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Leisure Activities in Somerset

Somerset Beach Holidays

Somerset Walking and Cycling Holidays

Family Holiday Parks, Camp Sites and Caravan Parks in Somerset

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