Tag Archives: Somerset

Somerset – top UK summer holiday destination

 

Somerset is fabulous for summer holidays

Enjoy a fantastic summer holiday in Somerset

A summer holiday in Somerset is more popular than ever this year.  The fall in the value of the pound certainly makes going abroad far more expensive. Not having to go to the airport reduces stress levels too – no delayed or cancelled flights to contend with and what about the long haul flight in the seat next to the crying baby, not this year!

We think Somerset has a lot to offer for a summer holiday.  With so much coastline and a hugely varied landscape from the Somerset Levels to the Quantock Hills there is lots to explore and enjoy.

Stunning Cheddar Gorge in North Somerset is a great place to visit in an area of outstanding natural beauty.  It’s Britain’s biggest limestone gorge, with cliffs rising to 450ft and a designated walk along the top of them, guaranteed to blow the cobwebs away!  With a stalactite cave, an open top bus tour and a look-out tower adults and children alike will have a great day out.  For the more courageous, there’s adventure caving and rock climbing.

A trip to the beach is a summer holiday tradition for many and in Somerset there’s loads of choice.  Burnham-on-Sea is a classic seaside town with an Edwardian backdrop of buildings overlooking the wide sandy beach, perfect for getting out your buckets and spades – you can even have a donkey ride on the beach and why not enjoy an ice-cream on the shortest pier in the UK.  Further along the coast is Kilve, a fossil hunter’s paradise and a great place to investigate the many rock-pools that appear at low tide.  There’s a lovely grassy area at the back of the beach for picnics, barbecues, cricket and all sorts of fun and games.

Now, let’s face it, sometimes the weather does get a little damp in the UK, so your summer holiday may not be end to end sunshine!  Grab those opportunities and visit some of the excellent indoor attractions that Somerset is home to, you’ll be glad it rained!

Why not keep with the watery theme and visit SeaQuarium at Weston super Mare?  We particularly liked the moon jellyfish, just like watching aquatic ballet and the underwater tunnel with a huge selection of creatures circling above you.  There’s so much to learn about here and you can get hands on involved too with some of the rock pool creatures.

Another of our favourites is Fleet Air Arm Museum showing the history of the airplane from the very early days of the biplane (you get a real sense of their fragility and the bravery of the pilots), through to the modern day. Along the way you can learn the physics of flight from a model plane inside a wind tunnel and hear about the military and human stories of the second world war.  There’s plenty here to make a day of it.

Whatever you choose to do during your summer holiday, we think Somerset has a lot to offer, we know you’ll enjoy it, come and take a look.

Tone Dale House – House Of Fox

 

It used to be the done thing for successful merchants and manufacturers to build themselves fine houses in the countryside where they could proudly display their wealth and enjoy the country life. In the late 1780’s, when Thomas Fox became partner of his families successful textile manufacturing business in Wellington, Somerset the natural thing to do was just that!

So, a few years later in 1797, he and his wife Sarah began to create their own country residence, Tone Dale House. The Fox’s chose to embrace the Palladian style of architecture that was so popular at that time, heavily influenced by the architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans and built their home adjacent to their thriving woollen mill.

Tone Dale House SomersetTone Dale House is an elegant grade II listed property, set in four acres of beautifully landscaped, immaculate gardens, centred around the millstream. The mill, which once played a key role in the family business, Fox Brothers & Co, is no longer in use.

Today this fine, 16 bedroom country property is owned by Ben and Victoria Fox and often referred to by the locals as ‘House of Fox’. Following its careful restoration by the Big House Co, the Fox´s unique country home is available for hire and has proven to be an incredibly popular choice for weddings, group holidays, corporate events and of course, parties.

Bags Of Character, Oodles Of Room

Between the main house and the renovated stables, this vast property is fully equipped to sleep a maximum of 31 guests. Inside the property, you will find plenty of space for dining, partying, relaxing and unwinding, amidst the Fox family portraits and antiques.

Tone Dale House simply oozes charm and whilst the renovation keenly observes the style of this period property, the overall design is incredibly sumptuous and comfortable, creating the perfect getaway pad for families and large groups.

With its south facing aspect, guests can enjoy the marvellous views, looking out across the landscaped gardens and babbling millstream in the foreground, to the beautiful Blackdown Hills beyond. Put simply if you’re looking for somewhere that ticks all the right boxes in then Tone Dale House and gardens are top of the list.

The Local Area

Wellington is a small market town, just 7 miles from Taunton, situated between the River Tone and the stunning Blackdown Hills. The rich heritage and thriving local economy make this welcoming little town an absolute pleasure to visit. You will notice that in addition to the larger chains you would expect to find, Wellington boasts an impressive and diverse selection of independent stores. In fact, to this day, Fox Brothers & Co are still producing fabrics including fine wool and cashmere, which is purchased by designers all over the world including Louis Vuitton.

The Blackdown Hills on the border of Devon and Somerset were first protected as an Area of Outstanding Beauty, (AONB) in 1991 ensuring that this unique and tranquil landscape, which is dotted with ancient features and home to a variety of rare flora and fauna, is preserved for our future generations.

Whilst relatively isolated, the hills are dotted with country pubs, charming villages, and farms and in this special part of the world working communities and wildlife coexist harmoniously.

The Wellington Monument sits on the highest point of the Blackdown Hills and this famous landmark, which was built to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, is well worth visiting. From this point, the views are simply astonishing, looking across the Vale of Taunton and Exmoor National Park to the Bristol Channel and across to south Wales.

Activities

It is not unusual for guests staying at Tone Dale house to prefer to spend the majority of their time resting, playing and being pampered on site, but the surrounding area is a great spot for all kinds of fun outdoor activities, including:

  • Horse Riding
  • Paint Ball
  • Archery
  • Clay Pigeon Shooting
  • Quad Biking
  • Off Roading
  • Fishing

Tone Dale House is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an exclusive five star property for hire in the beautiful countryside of south west Somerset. The Big House Co can help you to plan and cater for your event and have all the tools you could possibly need to create a magical break or unforgettable event. For more information about the house and its many features then just take a look the section on our website where you’ll find everything you need.