Best walks in Somerset
Somerset is an ancient county absolutely brimming with history and stories, just waiting to be discovered. From the legendary St Michael’s Tower perched atop Glastonbury Tor, to Stembridge Tower Windmill and Coleridge Cottage, there is no end of historic haunts to visit. But it is the landscape in which these monuments are set that makes Somerset such a special and inspiring place to visit. From the rolling Mendip Hills to the soaring cliffs of the coastline, this is truly a picture-perfect county.
With beauty in such an abundance, Somerset is undoubtedly a county best explored on foot, just as the poets did back in the day. It can be hard to choose where to start your walk, setting off from one of our two Haven Somerset Parks, but fear not, we’ve got you set. Below you’ll find the best views and most satisfying trails for when you head off walking in Somerset.
1. Kilve and East Quantoxhead walk
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: medium
This 3 mile circular walk is a great family-friendly route which takes in some of the best views and paths of the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Just a 20 minute drive from our Doniford Bay Park by car, you can park up at Kilve Beach car park where there is reasonably priced pay and display parking.
This route is steeped in history and will take you along the Kilve coast, past impressive ruins and a medieval manor and along the northerly edge of Kilve East Wood. There’s even a chance of finding an ammonite fossil down on the beach if you’re lucky and eagle-eyed enough.
2. Hawkridge Woods walk
Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: easy
If you venture further south into the Quantock Hills, you will come across various wooded climes to venture through and explore. Amongst them, Hawkridge Woods stands out as a super accessible and atmospheric walk through an ash and conifer plantation. This 1-mile walking route is perfect for young families and little legs looking for a leisurely afternoon potter through some inspiring woodland. Keep an eye out for an old restored lime kiln, a beautiful disused quarry and even roe and red deer at dusk and dawn.
3. Cheddar Gorge walk
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: medium
This infamous Somerset landmark is an unmissable day out from our Burnham-on-Sea Holiday Park. Only 30 minutes by car to the north east, this is a challenging and varied walk that’s well worth the effort for its spectacular views from England’s largest gorge. There’s a National Trust route which takes you on a 4-mile tour of the gorge.
Starting and finishing at the visitor centre, you’ll head through woodlands and over rocky paths to ascend the cliffs and admire the panoramic views before descending down into the depths of the gorge itself (be sure to book a ticket online if you want to explore the caves). Cheddar Gorge is a proudly pooch-friendly venue and the perfect setting for a happy dog walk in Somerset.
4. Brean Down Coastal walk
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: medium
This circular coastal walk is a National Trust trail which traverses the downs, ancient farmland and coastal paths of the Brean peninsula, just 30 minutes north of our Haven Burnham-on-Sea Park.
The route starts at the Brean Down Bird Garden, where you can fuel up with a cup of tea at the café and meet the exotic birds in the aviary. Highlights of the route include the site of an ancient Roman temple, remains of an Iron-Age Hill fort and the opportunity to spot skylarks, stonechats and even peregrine falcons - one to take your binoculars for!
5. Bleadon Hill walk
DIstance: 7.5 miles
Difficulty: hard
Next up is another more challenging route for the keen hikers amongst you. At 7.5 miles in length, you’ll want to be well prepared for this tour of one of the Mendip Hills’ finest landmarks. The walk sets off conveniently from Bleandon Hill Car Park, which sits on the western edge of the Mendip Hills and takes you on a round route through these rare and undisturbed limestone grasslands.
Keep an eye out for rare plants and wildlife including a number of orchid species and if you’re lucky, buzzards in the skies overhead.
6. Nutcome Bottom tall trees trail
Distance: 600m
Difficulty: easy
The next route takes you 30 minutes to the west by car from our Doniford Bay site. Just outside the village of Dunster, it is nestled into the Dunkery & Horner Wood National Nature Reserve. This trail is easy access and has disabled parking at the entrance of the woods. At just 600 metres in length, this gentle meander through a small and cosy copse gives you plenty of time to go at your own pace and marvel at the towering trees above you. Be sure to get a photo next to the 60m tall douglas fir which boasts the title of the tallest tree in England!
7. Bossington landscape walk
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: easy
Heading west along the coast from our Doniford Bay Park, you will come across a picture perfect little hamlet called Bossington, around which this next walk circles. Starting from the car park, you’ll head down to Bossington beach, through Allerford Woods and up alongside the Hill where you’ll look out over the quaint thatched roofs of Bossington, Allerford and Seaworthy. This is a great option for families with pooches as dogs are welcome all along the coastal path.
8. Steart Marshes circular walk
Distance: 3 or 6.5 miles
Difficulty: medium
As the river Parrett meets the sea, the Steart Peninsula curls round and outwards, almost meeting the land back at our Burnham-on-Sea Haven Park. The marshes here are looked after by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and a protected habitat for wildfowl and migratory birds. The marshes walking route has options to be 3 miles, or if you're in the mood for a challenge, 6.5 miles long. You’re sure to spot some unusual species of bird life as well as take in some fantastic views of the surrounding landscapes.
Start planning your Great British break
Related Posts
Best walks in Dorset
Best walks & walking routes in Exmoor
Best walks in Weymouth
Important information
Site fees from as little as £125 a month with Let2offset at Burnham-on-Sea
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Site fees from as little as £125 a month with Let2offset’ is available at Burnham-on-Sea. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance. Offer is subject to availability.
“Site fees from as little as £125 a month with Let2offset” is applicable to new customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. This offer is available at Burnham-on-Sea only and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade) for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Site fees from as little as £125 a month with Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Burnham-on-Sea with a monthly site fee of £750.00 (includes purchasing discount of £20) and monthly letting income of £606.00. The monthly difference equates to £124 which will be billed to the owner's account monthly. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Free 2024 site fees when you buy a Haven holiday home
Offer is applicable to new customer purchases made through Haven from 19 April 2024, completing by 31 December 2024.
Offer excludes part-exchanges or private sales. Available on new & pre-owned holiday homes at the following selected parks only: Kent Coast, Burnham-on-Sea, Cleethorpes Beach, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Golden Sands, Haggerston Castle, Hopton, Orchards, Skegness and Wild Duck.
A credit equivalent to the value of your site fees due during the 2024 season will be applied to your account balance on completion of your purchase for use against your running costs e.g. utilities, after-sale add-ons e.g storage boxes or site fees. It cannot be applied to your purchase or refunded in cash.
Subject to availability and status. Deposit required. Access to your holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Offer cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion. Offer may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. Full site fees will be payable for subsequent years.
Images are shown for representational purposes.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.