Minehead

Minehead lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, just outside the boundaries of Exmoor National Park. The parish had a population of 11,752 at the 2021 census, a town-sized base for a seaside week with the moor just behind.

The town is overlooked by North Hill, which rises steeply from the harbour shoreline. The hill is the practical reason to stay here if you like walking: the town is the starting point of the South West Coast Path National Trail, which runs to Poole in Dorset, so a first stretch of the path begins in the town itself. Even a short out-and-back gives a good sense of the coast.

Minehead is also home to a Butlin’s resort, opened in 1962, so expect the town to be busier at holiday times. The original Minehead Railway opened in 1874 and closed in 1971, and it has since reopened as the West Somerset Railway, a way to travel along the coast by steam rather than road.

A short distance along the coast is Dunster, whose former lords, the de Moyon family, administered the area from Dunster Castle. Exmoor itself starts on the edge of town, so moorland walks, coast walks and a day on the beach can all fit into the same week. A cottage here suits those who want amenities close to hand as well as the countryside.