Dunster Castle
Dunster Castle and village is a great day out from Beachside Suites, being three miles away and only twenty minutes by bicycle. The village boasts a picturesque high street with it’s famous yarn market at the top and lots of quaint shops and pubs. The castle is wonderful to explore, with it’s grounds, stream and gardens, as well as many rooms full of interesting features – see if you can find the priest hole or the Ice House.
There is a working water mill (currently undergoing restoration), a packhorse bridge, St George’s church and many thatched cottages.
More information:
Dunster Castle National Trust and Water Mill, Dunster Village.
Porlock and Porlock Weir
Six miles away from Beachside Suites can be found the delightful village of Porlock. It can be easily reached by bus, car, bike – or by foot on the South-West Coastal Path.
Porlock has several small shops, old cottages and St Dubricius Anglican Church – parts of which date to medieval times.
Just over a mile further on, to the West, is the small harbour of Porlock Weir – just right for photographs of boats, cottages and the 14th century Ship Inn.
More information:
Lynmouth
To the West of Minehead, eighteen miles away, can be found the village of Lynmouth. It is set within a backdrop of 600 ft high cliffs that descend into the sea, Lynmouth is situated at the meeting point of East and West Lyn Rivers as they meet the Bristol Channel.
Besides the magnificent location and the cliff railways dating back to 1888, Lynmouth is known for the flood of 1952 that washed away half of the riverside town in a massive landslide. Lynmouth Flood Memorial Hall stages an interesting, and free exhibition with photos, newspaper clips and personal accounts of the events.
Lynton is joined to Lynmouth by the Cliff Railway, which opened back in 1890 and carries visitors to this day. Half a mile west of Lynton lies the Valley of Rocks – a popular place for walkers and rock climbers.