Bath & North Somerset

Central Somerset

South Somerset

West Somerset

Somerset Coast

Minehead Accommodation

Minehead famously home of Butlins - great for family holidays and party weekends

The Skyline Pavillion at Minehead's Butlins holiday camp

North Hill where Exmoor reaches out to the sea

There are lots of bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from on the way to the seafront

Minehead is the main shopping centre for this part of West Somerset

The last stop on the West Somerset Railway is at Minehead

The South West Coast Path starts at Minehead

The South West Coast Path is waymarked for 630 miles around the coast

Accessible walkways with good facilities on Minehead's seafront

Minehead Tourist Information Butlins Holidays

Minehead is one of the main holiday centres in West Somerset. It is an unusual mix of seaside family holiday and a stepping off point for outdoor activities, the South West Coast Trail and Exmoor National Park. Minehead is the end point for the West Somerset Railway that provides a scenic journey from Taunton through the Quantock and Exmoor countryside.

Minehead is most famous for being home to a Butlins holiday camp. This is still going strong today and has received millions of pounds worth of investment to modernise it. It continues to be popular today for both holidays and days out.

Minehead Tourist Information

Minehead clusters around the Bay and spreads out up to the foot of the Exmoor Hills. It is a centre for hotel, guest house, B&B accommodation as well as camping and caravanning on its outskirts. Minehead has seen investment over the years to modernise the seafront and you can now easily walk along the wide promenade dotted with ice cream kiosks and modern toilets. There are some lovely views of Minehead and North Hill, the start of Exmoor, from the beach which is still popular on sunny days. It is said that these wooded hills feature as the Hermit's abode "in that wood which slopes down to the sea" in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Alternatively you can use Minehead as a stepping off point for the South West Coast Path or for exploring Exmoor National Park.

The Parade is the focal point of the town centre which is often brightened up with floral displays. There is a good choice of bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants here - some with pavement dining. There is also a good choice of shops in the town.

Butlins provides a venue for family entertainment and the seafront has several amusement arcades and shops, mini-golf and family attractions. In the town is the Aquasplash Leisure Centre with its 25 metre pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. There are discounts for family tickets. You find it on Warren Road, Minehead TA24 6UT. Tel: 01643 708000.

Minehead's Tourist Information Centre provides all sorts of information on Minehead, Exmoor and the surrounding pretty, historic villages. Minehead Tourist Information Centre, 17 Friday Street Minehead, Somerset TA24 5UB. Tel: 01643 702 624. Fax: 01458 707 166. Email: info@mineheadtic.co.uk

History of Butlins Minehead Holidays Somerwest World

Minehead is most famous for being the home the largest of the Butlins holiday camps. It is now only one of three that remain today. Billy Butlin chose the site himself on flat grazing marshes just outside Minehead's town centre. It opened in 1962. The Minehead Butlins holiday camp had a futuristic feel with chairlifts and an overhead monorail - straight out of the 60's science fiction type movies. Around the site was the boating lake which was originally actually dug to combat the risk of flooding.

In the 1980s the whole camp was revamped and rebadged as Somerwest World although it's reverted back to the more recognisable Butlins in latter years. The monorail, miniature railway and chairlifts were taken out of service and the boating lake filled in. Where the outdoor swimming pool once was is now undercover of the Skyline Pavilion in which you can find cafes, bars, games and the central performance stage. The indoor pool was retained but modernised and now has slides, rapids and whirlpools. The accommodation on site has also undergone refurbishment and modernisation.

Along with Bognor Regis and Skegness Butlins holiday resorts continue to entertain thousands every year. You can book groups on themed party weekends, take the family for a fun packed week or roll-up for a day visit. Well known pop stars and groups often perform and there are several themed adult weekender breaks throughout the year. You can often get a discount for booking online. For families a huge attraction is the indoor and outdoor pools of Splashworld. Under sub-tropical temperatures you can have a go on long, twisty waterslides, wave machines, rapids, bubble pools, water canons and space bowl. There is also a free fun fair, the largest high ropes course in Europe, a climbing wall and you can book yourself on a variety of outdoor activities, sailing, canoeing and fishing trips which are held outside the camp. When you've worked up an appetite there are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from.

The Minehead Butlins is also handy for getting out and exploring Exmoor National Park. Butlins at Minehead has always been a popular family attraction and is a handy day out if the weather turns bad.

South West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path is a 630 mile long trail around the South West of England. The Path goes through some of the country's most beautiful coastal scenery through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

The South West Coast Path starts in Minehead and is estimated to take 7-8 weeks if you want to do the whole route! More realistically, the South West Coast Path website, link right, has details of suggested walks along different parts of it, as well as a search function so you can find a walk to suit your ability and requirements. There's everything from easy strolls, feasible for all abilities, to more challenging week long hikes.

The Path is waymarked with the acorn logo and distances are signed at main access points. The weblink right also includes a distance calculator and links to transport and Tourist Information Centres - everything to help you plan your walk before setting out. You can also purchase guidebooks to the trail.

West Somerset Railway

Minehead is on the West Somerset Railway line. This is the original broad gauge Great Western Railway line that runs from Taunton to Minehead between the Quantock Hills, Exmoor and the Brendon Hills. Historic steam locomotives, coaches and wagons are used to travel this picturesque route and makes a fun day out if you're a steam engine enthusiast or if you just want to sit back and enjoy the views.

Throughout the year the railway run special events such as Santa Specials, dining train journeys, murder mystery trains and jazz and swing trips. There's also the Brunel Buffet car at Minehead station. You can organise special functions of your own such as weddings and parties or you can book groups on the to the regular services. Groups of more than 16 receive a 15% discount. There is a 15% discount for senior citizens.

For the real steam engine and railway enthusiasts, West Somerset Railway organise one and two day courses. You can stoke the coal engine or drive a locomotive. Courses are designed for different levels of experience as well as a taster session.

Passengers in wheelchairs can be accommodated on the trains and disabled toilets are available in the Lorna Doone carriage (seats can be booked in advance). Buffet cars are available on most trains for light refreshments. Check their website, link right, for up-to-date information on timetables, fares and special events. West Somerset Railway Plc, The Railway Station, Minehead, Somerset TA24 5BG. Tel: 01643 704996. Email: info@west-somerset-railway.co.uk

Minehead Hobby Horse

The origin of the Minehead Hobby Horse Festival has been lost in history although it's thought to have started as warding off evil Vikings or is a commemoration of the wreck of a vessel at Minehead, or a phantom ship which entered the harbour without Captain or crew.

Either way the tradition continues today and can be traced back to at least 1792 when it was recorded in Dunster Castle's ledger.

On 1 May Minehead is woken by the beating of a drum. The Hobby Horse dances its way around Minehead and on up to Dunster Castle. As it makes its way back to Minehead it collects donations.

The culmination of the festival is the "booty" on 3 May where tight fisted spectators can expect to be laid down in front of the horse and has to escape before the horse turns his tail on them!

Click Search

Tourist Information

iKnow-Somerset Links

Internet Links

Home Top