A Taste Of Somerset, The Mendip Hills & Cider Tasting - Jg Explorer

Itinerary

Description

Travel in deluxe style on this holiday aboard a JG Explorer coach!  

Rolling hills, bubbling cider and charming villages can only mean one thing…the lovely South West county of Somerset! From our base in the nostalgic resort of Weston-super-Mare, we soak up the best of the region with a magical journey through the Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, stopping off in olde-worlde Wells, Street and Cheddar. We also spend time in the county town of Taunton and visit the award-winning, family-run Sheppy’s Cider Farm, where our guided tour takes in everything from the fruit orchard to a tasting of this deliciously refreshing drink – cheers!

Itinerary

Included Excursions

Mendip Villages (Wells, Street & Cheddar) (full day)

We enjoy a tour of some of the most picturesque villages in Somerset, where our first stop is Wells, located at the foot of the Mendip Hills. England’s smallest city boasts a Also of interest are Vicars' Close, claimed to be the oldest complete medieval street in Europemagnificent cathedral and unique moated Bishop’s Palace, a medieval palace which has been home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for 800 years, while the eclectic mix of buildings and narrow streets adds to the atmosphere here. Next is Street, the largest village in Somerset, popular for its lovely views of Glastonbury Tor and the Mendips and renowned as the birthplace of Clarks shoes. On the site of the old factory lies Clarks Village, the UK’s first factory outlet and the perfect place to grab a bargain! Lastly, we visit Cheddar village, known as the origin of Cheddar cheese, which has been produced here since the 12^th century. The village offers many tea rooms, gift shops and, of course, the Cheddar Cheese factory!

Sheppy's Cider Farm & Taunton (full day)

Today we make our way to the family-run Sheppy’s Cider Farm, one of the world’s oldest independent cider makers. Sheppy’s has been lovingly making award-winning craft ciders for over 200 years and the whole process happens on the 370-acre site, from growing to bottling. We go behind the scenes on our guided tour and also enjoy a delicious cider tasting here.

We continue to the county town of Somerset, Taunton, for some free time. Highlights include the historic architecture of Georgian townhouses and Gothic churches, the range of boutique shops and the ancient Taunton Castle, which now houses the Museum of Somerset.  

Optional Excursion

Bath – £14pp (full day)

Our optional excursion takes us to the beautiful city of Bath. The city has remained faithful to its Regency roots, with an abundance of elegant terraces, circuses and squares in a picturesque valley setting. The magnificent Royal Crescent is a must-see and the central square is home not only to Bath Abbey, but also the ancient Roman Baths. The city has an excellent selection of shops; especially along the Pulteney Bridge, one of only four bridges in the world to feature shops across its full span on both sides. 

Coach Bullets

• Return coach travel on a JG Explorer Coach (see Helpful Information below)
• 4 nights at the York Hotel, Weston-super-Mare (JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfast 
• Porterage
• Tea & coffee on arrival at the hotel
• Entertainment some evenings
• Excursions to Mendip Villages (Wells, Street & Cheddar), Sheppy’s Cider Farm & Taunton
• Guided tour and tasting at Sheppy’s Cider Farm  

Optional excursion to Bath (£14pp)

Search Bullets

• 4 nights at the York Hotel, Weston-super-Mare (JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfast 
• Porterage
• Tea & coffee on arrival at the hotel
• Entertainment some evenings
• Excursions to Mendip Villages (Wells, Street & Cheddar), Sheppy’s Cider Farm & Taunton
• Guided tour and tasting at Sheppy’s Cider Farm  

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Search Results Coach

JG2+

JG2+ rated hotels offer a higher standard of hospitality, often by the friendly owner or manager and often with good home cooking plus enhanced décor, facilities and services. Food may be buffet style in some of the larger hotels. These hotels have proven to deliver a higher level of satisfaction according to our customer feedback surveys.

JG Explorer Coaches

JG Explorer Coaches 
We are pleased to introduce JG Explorer – a brand-new deluxe coach, thoughtfully designed to provide an elevated coach experience and ensure your journey is special and memorable.

Exclusive to the JG Travel Group, the design of these coaches has been meticulously thought through with your comfort in mind – with only 44 seats meaning more room on board and padded seats. There’s improved legroom and a footrest, making certain that wherever you sit, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your journey. We know it’s the small things that make a big difference in terms of ease and added convenience, so our Explorer coaches feature a floor-level, rear-mounted toilet, accessible to all customers.

On-board entertainment throughout your journey is easy to find on the JG Explorer, with access to Azimut, our wireless media system, providing films and quizzes. Simply bring along your smartphone or iPad and enjoy this entertainment interruption-free, with the use of our extra reliable Wi-Fi, free to all passengers and a handy USB port at each seat.

The layout of the JG Explorer includes a floor-level, rear-mounted kitchen with a sink, an espresso machine to purchase delicious Nespresso coffee, dispensed by your driver during comfort breaks, and a fridge stocked with cold drinks and milk. Customers are welcome to help themselves to complimentary JG bottles, that can be used for refill at the built-in cold-water filter, cutting down on the need for disposable plastic bottles and doing our part for the environment. 

Accommodation

Hotel (JG2+ rating)

The York Hotel is situated in the seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. Located opposite Weston pier with views across the bay and Victorian promenade, the hotel offers comfortable en-suite rooms, a bar and restaurant.