Tour of rural Somerset

Sunday 21 to Friday 26 September 2026

Tour leaders: Elizabeth Yarker and Kathleen Morris

Venue: Grand Atlantic Hotel, Weston-super-Mare

 
The tour will concentrate on the fascinating and varied history of the beautiful county of Somerset. We will be based in comfort in Weston-super-Mare and have a wonderful programme of visits lined up including the lovely Wells Cathedral and impressive Bishop’s Palace and of course legendary Glastonbury.

We will visit the Museum of Somerset in Taunton Castle and get quick geological overview covering some 300 million years of climate and change before moving on to some superb Bronze Age finds and a fascinating Roman pavement. A change of pace will take us to Coates Willow and Wetlands where industry still flourishes.

Opulent living can be seen at Lytes Cary Manor, Montacute House and Dunster Castle with its water mill and attractive village. Visits to Watchet, Bridgewater and Weston show the importance of seafaring to this part of the world. On our travels we will pay our respects to Cromwell’s renowned Admiral, Robert Blake, the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and to Harry Patch. Then a quick visit to Cleeve Abbey.

A trip to Yeovilton to the Fleet Air Arm Museum brings us into the modern world with a proto-type Concorde and on to Shepton Mallet Prison, which was, until its closure in 2013, the oldest working prison.

And of course, no tour of the area would be complete without visiting the mysterious Wookey Hole and the spectacular scenery of Cheddar Gorge and Gough’s Cave.

Cost: £819 with £85 single supplement. Costs include five nights diner, bed and breakfast plus coach travel. We assume membership of the National Trust and English Heritage for visits so please ensure you have your membership cards. For entry costs to other sites, please await further information.

Further details and booking:

 
The tour begins with dinner at 7pm on Sunday 21 September giving people time to explore Weston-super-Mare Sunday afternoon if they so wish and will finish at 12 noon on Friday 26 September.

Contract with Greatdays Holidays Ltd of Altrincham ABTA protected. Greatdays advice insurance and can arrange if required.

Booking and deposit: please download the form below and send with a £50 deposit payable to Greatdays Holidays Ltd to: Elizabeth Yarker, 35 Prestwich Avenue, Worcester WR5 1QF. Please note we can only take cheques

Call: 01905 352997 for more information.