Minehead

Victorian seaside swagger meets rugged Exmoor wilderness at this Somerset coastal town that refuses to fade quietly into retirement. The West Somerset Railway steams right to the heart of things at Minehead station, bringing visitors from across the country to experience what many consider the finest stretch of coastline between Devon and Wales.

Beaches here are proper sandy affairs, not the pebbly disappointments you'll find further east along the coast. The town stretches from its working harbour up to the dramatic cliffs of North Hill, where footpaths lead onto Exmoor's heather-clad moorland. Black Hill and Bat's Castle offer cracking views across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh coast on clear days.

Dunster lies just inland, easily reached by the heritage railway that chugs through countryside that looks barely changed since the steam age. The town itself has that slightly faded grandeur common to British seaside resorts, though the Butlins complex keeps things lively during peak season.

Golf enthusiasts are well served by both Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club and the newer Minehead Golf Club, while families can catch performances at The Puppet Castle or browse the Arts & Craft Studio when the weather turns.

Exmoor National Park begins practically at the town's doorstep. Conygar Wood provides gentle woodland walking, while more adventurous types can strike out across the moor itself. The coast path in both directions offers spectacular cliff-top hiking.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense - you're within easy reach of both beach and moor, plus the railway connection means car-free exploration of the wider Somerset countryside. The M5 delivers you here in under three hours from most of England.