Washford

Washford is a village on the Washford River in the civil parish of Old Cleeve, in the area run by Somerset Council. Right beside it stands Cleeve Abbey. English Heritage describes it as the most complete and unaltered set of monastic cloister buildings in England, standing roofed and two storeys high. Visitors can see the gatehouse, the refectory with its angel roof, an unusual painted chamber and a tiled refectory floor dating from around 1270. The abbey is not open every day of the week, so check English Heritage’s days before you plan a day around it.

The village also has its own station on the West Somerset Railway, a steam-operated heritage railway. The line runs 20 miles between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, and Washford falls between Watchet and Blue Anchor. Timetables for October 2026 show trains on some dates and no public services on others, so look at the calendar before you rely on it. The same line serves Watchet, Dunster and Minehead, so the railway links Washford with all three.

Washford has a Methodist chapel, a Grade II listed building. The village lies on the route of the Somerset Way and the Celtic Way Exmoor Option, so walkers following either trail pass through it. Expect a quiet base rather than a resort: the draw here is the abbey, the railway and the country on the doorstep.