West Somerset Railway & Dorset Delights 2023

Itinerary

Day 1

Join your comfortable coach at your convenient local pick up point this morning and sit back as we travel to the wonderful seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare.
Steeped in Victorian history, it is the gateway to the South West of England. Lucky to boast miles of golden sandy beaches, the resort is home to the flagship Grand Pier. A bustling high street and independent shopping district make up the cosmopolitan town. The wonderful sweep of Weston Bay, with views over to Wales and down to Exmoor, is a never-ending source of satisfaction. There’s also a host of cafes, pubs, and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by.

Rejoin your coach later and head for our comfortable hotel in the charming village of Street. On arrival enjoy time to settle in before dinner, and perhaps take a stroll to get your bearings. Your hotel is a few minutes stroll from the popular Clarks Shopping Village, set around the original Clarks factory buildings offering lots of great bargains and famous brands. You may want to enjoy a drink in the bar before enjoying your first evening meal and meeting your fellow travellers ready for your adventure ahead!

Days 2 - 4

Enjoy hearty breakfasts each morning and then either spend time at leisure in Street or join us for some or all of our INCLUDED excursions. Return to your hotel each evening for your included dinner and time to relax and share your memories from the day, with great entertainment on at least one evening.

Board the West Somerset Railway for a journey on the UK’s longest heritage railway stretching 20 miles from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. Our one way journey takes us through stunning countryside on this wonderfully nostalgic trip. Have some free time in the seaside resort of Minehead and the pretty village of Dunster.

Sit back as we travel to visit the small but perfectly formed city of Wells, with its breathtaking Cathedral and Bishops Palace. You will find yourself transported to a different age, whether you shop or explore this picture perfect setting. Later we travel to the legendary town that is Glastonbury. Explore the Abbey, reputedly the burial place of King Arthur himself, check out the fantastic independent shops or enjoy a drink or snack in one of the many welcoming cafes and pubs.

Also discover Dorchester, the vibrant county town of Dorset, discovering its connection to Thomas Hardy and exploring its shops and interesting museums which include the Dorset County Museum and the Keep Military Museum. Then explore Sherborne, without doubt one of the most beautiful towns in England. The charming, honey-coloured town is brimming with history and heritage and you're sure to be impressed by the array of beautiful buildings, including a magnificent Abbey.

Day 5

After a final hearty breakfast it is time to say farewell to Somerset and head for beautiful Bath. Built for pleasure and relaxation, beautiful Bath has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times. The waters are still a big draw, both at the ancient Roman Baths and the thoroughly modern Thermae Bath Spa, which houses the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain you can bathe in. The compact, visitor-friendly centre is overflowing with places to eat and drink, plus some of the finest independent shops in Britain. Immerse yourself in Bath’s remarkable collection of museums and galleries, while admiring Bath's stunning honey-coloured Georgian architecture that is straight from a Jane Austen novel. For a special treat enjoy the grandeur of the world famous Pump Room for afternoon tea, and a sample of the healing Bath waters taken by the city's famous residents for hundreds of years. For something simpler but just as historic try a delicious Sally Lunn Bunn served in the famous eating house or to take away, made to the same recipe since 1680!

Tour includes

• 4 nights hotel with English breakfast & evening meals
• Evening entertainment on at least 2 nights
• Visit to Weston-super-Mare
• Excursion to Dorchester and Sherborne
• Journey on the West Somerset Railway with visits to Minehead and Dunster
• Excursion to Wells and Glastonbury
• Visit to Bath
• Direct Coach Travel
• Net Zero Carbon Offset Certificate

Weston-super-Mare

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationWeston-super-Mare, nestled on the Somerset coast and embraced by Weston Bay’s 2 mile long sandy beach has reinvented itself from its beginnings in Victorian history. Few towns can say that their beachfront is so close to the town centre, is mostly on the level without steep walkways and can offer so much to do, whatever the weather. The town centre's independent shops, cafes and bars are nestled within a few steps. 

Well known for traditional donkey rides, the amusements and rides of the Grand Pier, ice-cream on the beach and fish & chips, there is so much more to offer as well! There’s two theatres, two cinemas, a free museum and a vast range of traditional and international cuisine – you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the amount of things to do.

West Somerset Railway with Minehead and Dunster

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationExperience this country branch line of the old Great Western Railway which is full of fascination whether you are looking for a nostalgic ride back in time through lovely countryside or to study the railway and industrial heritage which the line preserves. The historic steam locomotives, coaches and wagons, and the buildings of ten unique stations linked by a twenty-mile scenic journey can give hours of fun and interest. The surrounding countryside is as varied as it is beautiful, from the gently rolling Quantock hills and distant Exmoor, unspoilt villages and farms nestling in leafy lanes, the cliffs and coast of the Bristol Channel with views of distant South-Wales, confident Church Towers, Dunster's imposing Castle and Minehead's seaside charm they are all waiting to be discovered.

Also have some free time to explore the popular seaside resort of Minehead with its promenade, long sandy beach and harbour and the pretty village of Dunster, overlooked by a 1000 year old castle, and with a working watermill, the packhorse bridge, the tithe barn, a dolls museum, a fine church and the old Yarn Market building.

Wells & Glastonbury

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationsWells is the smallest city in England nestled at the foot of the Mendip Hills and famed for its medieval architecture and its spectacular Gothic Cathedral, Bishop's Palace and Vicars' Close, said to be the oldest residential street in Europe. Wells has a wealth of fine eateries and fashionable shops. There is always lots going on in this compact city and you can enjoy it at its best on one of it's bustling market days held in Wells Market Place! (Wednesday and Saturday visits only)

Historic Glastonbury is a quirky, unique place to visit, best-known for its nearby annual music festival. A compact town, everything worth seeing is within walking distance and one of the most refreshing aspects of Glastonbury is that it is not over commercialised. The Abbey, dating from 670 AD is now an atmospheric ruin, and a visit is still very worthwhile. Prior to that time, the town existed as a Celtic religious centre. According to legend, 2000 years ago Joseph of Arimathea is said to have brought the young Jesus here. A 10-minute walk from the High Street will take you past Chalice Well to the foot of the famous mystical Glastonbury Tor. You can also enoy the 'new age' side to the town, with mystic shops and free spirits who have made Glastonbury their home. It is a legendary place that weaves its way through everything you experience here.

Dorchester & Sherborne

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationDorchester is a vibrant town for sightseeing and shopping. You will find a town with one foot in the past and another firmly in the future, with some of this country's best preserved Roman ruins moments away from a thriving high street. Dorchester is very fortunate in having no less than 8 museums, leafy riverside walks near the centre, dialect trails through the town's shops and cafes and the largest Iron Age hillfort in Europe. The Dorset Museum will give you an insight into the county's Jurassic past through to the life and work of Dorset's famous novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. For more specialist interests you could visit the many themed museums from Teddies to Terracotta Warriors and Tutankhamun, all in this bustling town where there are plenty of individual shops and cafes to browse and watch the world go by for a more sedate visit.

Sherborne is one of the most beautiful towns in Dorset and has an abundance of medieval buildings, a superb Abbeys and picturesque Almshouse. Once the capital of Wessex, The Abbey dates to Saxon times and the ruined castle was once the home of Sir Walter Raleigh. It has a lovely intimate atmosphere and is a delight to explore with an array of independent shops selling a variety of goods, including fashion boutiques and Art & Antique Dealers and a number of pubs and cafes.

Bath

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationBuilt for pleasure and relaxation, beautiful Bath has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times. The waters are still a big draw, both at the ancient Roman Baths and the thoroughly modern Thermae Bath Spa, which houses the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain you can bathe in. The compact, visitor-friendly centre is overflowing with places to eat and drink, plus some of the finest independent shops in Britain. Immerse yourself in Bath’s remarkable collection of museums and galleries, while admiring Bath's stunning honey-coloured Georgian architecture that is straight from a Jane Austen novel. For a special treat enjoy the grandeur of the world famous Pump Room for afternoon tea, and a sample of the healing Bath waters taken by the city's famous residents for hundreds of years. For something simpler but just as historic try a delicious Sally Lunn Bunn served in the famous eating house or to take away, made to the same recipe since 1680!   Back to top

Accommodation

Wessex Hotel Street

A warm welcome awaits you at the centrally located Wessex Hotel in Street on your next Toureasy Hotel. Superbly located just across the road from the popular Clarks Village retail outlet, the Wessex Hotel offers an opportunity to get out and about with a little retail therapy. The hotel itself offers friendly service, comfortable facilities including lounge, bar & restaurant and welcoming bedrooms with modern facilities and complimentary tea/coffee facilities. The hotel has a lift and Free Wi-Fi is available. Entertainment is available most night nights.

For more information, click here for the hotel website (opens in a new window) Back to top