Places to visit within 30 minutes drive from our holiday cottages.
For abbreviations and colour codes, see the page
Notes on lists of Places to visit in Dorset, Somerset and Devon
| Place | Feature | Map Ref | Postcode | Road miles | Time mins | Dog friendly | Adam's Green | Hibbitts Woods (DoWT) | ST 54744 07583 | BA22 9SW | 6 | 14 | yes | Allington Hill | Wood (WT) | SY 459 933 | DT6 5DD | 11 | 22 | yes | Axminster | Town | 16 | 29 | Barrington Court | House (NT) | ST 398 183 | TA19 0NQ | 10 | 23 | grounds | Barrington Hill | Meadows (SSSI, NNR) | ST 300 170 | BH21 4DZ | 15 | 27 | yes | Beaminster | Town | 5 | 9 | Beaminster | Museum | DT8 3NB | 5 | 9 | Beaminster | Isaac Cider. Coombe Down Farm | ST 480 002 | DT8 3LZ | 6 | 12 | Beaminster | Greyhound Inn | DT8 3AW | 5 | 9 | yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good pub with good menu | Beaminster | Red Lion | DT8 3AX | 5 | 9 | yes |
| Smaller menu than the Greyhound but a better chef so well prepared. | Beaminster | Donkey Walking Adventures | 5 | 10 | Bickenhall | Boon's Copse (Neroche Forest) (SWT) | ST 281 199 | TA3 5RS | 17 | 29 | yes | Bishopswood | Jan Hobbs Nature reserve (SWT) | ST 262 133 | TA20 3QG | 16 | 30 | yes | Bishopswood | Bishopswood Meadows (SWT) | ST 252 131 | TA20 3RZ | 17 | 30 | yes | Black Down | Hardy monument (NT) | SY 613 875 | DT2 9HY | 19 | 30 | yes | Bracketts Copice | DoWT. SSSI, ancient woodland | ST 51380 07380 | BA22 9QU | 3 | 7 | yes | Bridport | Town, Morrisons, Lidl, Waitrose | 12 | 23 | Bridport | Museum | DT6 3NR | 12 | 23 | Bridport | Strong Orchard | SY 466 971 | DT6 5HZ | 9 | 22 | Bridport | Allington Hill | SY 457 935 | 12 | 23 | Bridport | Groves nurseries and garden centre | SY 466 918 | DT6 4BA | 12 | 23 | yers | Bridport | Washingpool Farm | SY462 943 | DT6 5HP | 12 | 23 | Buckland St Mary | Dommet Wood (SWT) | ST 278 139 | TA20 3JL | 16 | 29 | yes | Burton Bradstoxk | Hive Beach | DT6 4RF | 15 | 29 | Burton Bradstoxk | Cogden Beach | DT6 4RL | 15 | 30 | Burton Bradstock | Coastal area. Walks to West Bay and Hive Beach (NT) | SY 48 89 | 14 | 27 | yes | Castle Neroche | Norman Motte and Bailey, Forest (FC) | ST 273 156 | 17 | 30 | yes |
| Good woodland walks | Cattistock | Village. Dorset Knob Throwing Event | ST 59 99 | 9 | 16 | Cerne Abbas | Giant & village | ST 662 016 | 15 | 26 | yes | Chalmington | Dorset Star cider | ST 594 008 | DT2 0HB | 10 | 17 | Chard | (Canal) Reservoir (nature reserve) | ST 338 094 | 11 | 20 | yes |
| Surfaced woodland walk on east side, Not circular. | Chard | Town, Sainbury's | 11 | 20 | Chard | Museum | 11 | 20 | Charmouth | Coastal village | 16 | 30 | Charmouth | Heritage Coast Centre | 16 | 30 | Chedington | Village walk1 | ST 488 054 | 1 | 5 | yes | Chedington | Village walk 2 | ST 488 054 | 1 | 5 | yes | Chedington | Winyard's Gap | ST 492 062 | 2 | 5 | yes | Chedington | Winyard's Gap (on foot) | ST 492 062 | 2 | 30 | yes | Chilthorne Domer | West Country Water Buffalo products | ST 526 210 | BA22 8LS | 15 | 24 | Chiselborough | Cat Head Inn | TA14 6TT | 6 | 16 | yes | Clapton Bridge | Water Mill | ST 414 063 | 5 | 9 | Coat | Open access grassland and disused railway walk | ST 452 204 | 11 | 25 | yes | Coney's Castle | Hill Fort | SY 371 979 | 12 | 24 | yes |
| Small car park. It is in walking distance from Lamberts castle. Good Bluebell wood. | Corscombe | Village. Web site has walks | SY 516 067 | 4 | 8 | Corscombe | Circular Walk to Chelborough (4½ miles) | ST 525 053 | 4 | 8 | Corscombe | Fox Inn | DT2 0NS | 4 | 8 | yes | Crewkerne | Museum | TA18 7LP | 3 | 7 | Crewkerne | The White Horse | 3 | 7 | Crewkerne | Town, Waitrose, Lidl | 3 | 7 | Crewkerne | Bincombe Beeches (nature reserve) | ST 443 101 | 5 | 9 | yes | Crewkerne station | 2 | 4 | Cricket St Thomas | House (hotel) and Gardens | ST 372 086 | TA20 4DD | 9 | 22 | Crook Hill | Open access. Wood (NT) | ST 498 065 | 2 | 5 | yes | Dogbury Hill | Hill Fort | ST 660 052 | 14 | 26 | yes | Dorchester | Town | 18 | 28 | Dorchester | Dinosaur Museum | 18 | 28 | Dorchester | Dorset County Museum | 18 | 28 | Dorchester | The Keep Military Museum | 18 | 28 | Dowlish Wake | Perry's Cider Mills | ST 375 127 | 9 | 17 | no | East Chinnock | Bridge Farm Cider | ST 591 128 | 6 | 11 | East Coker | Helyar Arms | ST 541 123 | BA22 9JR | 9 | 22 | yes |
| Recommended by one visitor for its for excellent food. | East Lambrook | Margery Fish Gardens | ST 431 189 | TA13 5HH | 10 | 23 | yes (on leads) | Eggardon Hill | Hill Fort (SSSI; NT - southern half only) | SY 541 947 [SY 550 948 700m] | 13 | 22 | yes |
| Some parking in Shatombe Lane, 500m east of the hill. North half is ploughed. | Evershot | The Acorn Inn | 8 | 12 | yes | |
| Nice pub, slightly up-market. | Evershot | 4½ mile walk, Melbury Park (IPA, Deer Park) | ST 573 046 | 8 | 12 | Evershot | 6½ mile walk, Melbury park | ST 573 045 | 8 | 12 | Evershot | Melbury Park (IPA, Deer Park) | ST 573 046 | 8 | 12 | Eype | Beach, Cafe | SY 447 910 | 14 | 26 | yes | Forde Abbey | Gardens | SY 362 053 | TA20 4LU | 9 | 22 | yes, very (well behaved in cafe) | Frampton | Tibbs Hollow | SY 619 945 | 13 | 21 | yes | Frampton | Harry's Wood and Millennium Green | SY 619 945 | 13 | 21 | Ham Hill | Country park, Hill Fort (SSSI, NNR) | ST 479 172 | 10 | 20 | yes |
| Probably the most popular hill-fort of all, but adequate space to get away from crowds. | Hardington Moor | Nature reserve (SSSI, NNR) | ST 515 130 | 8 | 18 | yes | Hardington Moor | Hatherstone Wood (WT) | ST 526 127 | 8 | 18 | yes | Haselbury Plucknett | Ham Hill Cider | ST 4741 20 | 4 | 8 | Haselbury Plucknett | Haselbury Mill | 4 | 8 | Haselbury Plucknett | Lower Severalls Nursery and Garden | ST 457 112 | 5 | 9 | Haselbury Plucknett | White Horse pub (Michelin listed) | 4 | 7 | yes | Hatherstone wood | (WT) | ST 526 127 | 8 | 17 | yes | Hilfield | Hendover Coppice (DoWT) | ST 63433 03810 | 10 | 20 | yes | Hinton St George | The Lord Poulet Arms. Good garden | ST 419 128 | TA17 8SE | 8 | 19 | Hive Beach | Walk to West Bay | SY 492 888 SY463 904 | 15 | 28 | yes | Hive Beach | Sea food restaurant, beach | SY 4909 8867 | 15 | 28 | yes | Hog Cliff | Chalk downland (SSSI, NNR) | ST 621 976 | 14 | 21 | yes | Hooke | Hooke Park | SY 5245 0035 | DT8 3PH | 7 | 15 |
| A bluebell wood. Nice walks. Some parking at map ref listed. | Ilminster | Town | 10 | 19 | Ilminster | Herne Hill (LNR) | ST 351 139 | 10 | 19 | yes | Kingcombe Meadows | Working Farm, Nature reserve and centre (DoWT) | SY 554 991 | 8 | 14 | yes | Kingsdon | Glenda Spooner: Horse rescue centre | ST 515 258 | 17 | 27 | Kingston Russel | Stone Circle. (EH) (on foot) | SY 577 878 | 16 | 27 | yes | Lambert's Castle | Hill fort. (SSSI, NT) | SY 370 988 | 11 | 25 | yes |
| Large car park. One of the nicest hill-forts. Coney's Castle is within walking distance. | Laymore | Squirrel Inn | ST 387 048 | 7 | 14 | Lewesdon Hill | Open access, wooded hill fort. Dorset's highest point (NT) | ST 437 014 | 6 | 14 | yes |
| Highest point in Dorset. An excellent wooded walk, but parking is difficult. | Little Norton Wood | S. Somerset DC wood | ST 484 158 | 8 | 19 | yes | Litton Cheney | Vinyard | SY 551 907 | DT2 9AW | 17 | 27 | Loscombe | Nature Reserve (SSSI, DoWT) | SY 50154 97903 | 9 | 19 | yes | Lower Odcombe | Greensleeves Nursery | ST 510 162 | BA22 8TW | 9 | 18 | Lytes Cary Manor | House and Gardens (NT) | ST 534 267 | 17 | 26 | Maiden Newton | Water meadow, picnic site, railway walk, wood | SY 593 979 | 10 | 14 | Mancombe Wood | (WT) | ST 427 102 | 5 | 12 | yes | Mangerton | Water Mill | SY 490 957 | 11 | 21 | Mapperton | House & gardens | SY 503 996 | DT8 3NR | 7 | 11 | no | Martok | Town | ST 463 195 | 11 | 22 | Martock | Treasurer's House | TA12 6JL | 11 | 22 | Merriott | The Feed Station: Cafe | ST 442 129 | 10 | 21 | yes | Merriott | Lynash Nurseries | ST 447 130 | TA16 5PL | 5 | 15 | Minterne House | Gardens | ST 660 042 | DT2 7AU | 14 | 25 | yes (grounds) | Misterton | Globe Inn | 2 | 3 | yes | Misterton | Cedrics cakes, White Swan, Misterton | ST 461 080 | 1 | 3 | Montacute | TV & Radio Toy Museum and tearooms | ST 496 169 | 9 | 19 | Montacute | Lady's Walk (NT) | ST 4962 1691 | 9 | 19 | yes | Montacute | House and gardens (NT) | ST 4962 1691 | 9 | 19 | yes (informal areas) | Mosterton | The Admiral Hood (footpath) | ST 805 893 | 1 | 25 | yes | Mosterton | The Admiral Hood | ST 805 893 | 2 | 4 | yes | Mosterton | Nightingale Farm (Wood) | ST 451 050 | 2 | 4 | yes | North Perrott | The Manor Arms | ST 475 094 | 2 | 4 | North Perrott | Fruit Farm, Farm shop, garden centre, cafe etc. | ST 474 099 | 3 | 5 | Oathill | Higher Bere Chaple Farm Woods (WT) | ST 404 057, 398 059 | 7 | 13 | yes | Owermoigne | Cider museum | DT2 8HZ | 44 | 27 |
| Also spring nursery; clock collection and shop | Pilsdon Pen | Hill fort. Open access. Dorset's 2nd highest. (NT) | SY 414 009 | 7 | 20 | yes |
| Open hill so excellent views. Small car park on B3164. Not for a windy day! | Portesham | Valley of Stones (NNR) | SY597 882 | 18 | 27 | yes | Powerstock | Powerstock common (DoWT, SSSI) | SY 54688 97382 | 10 | 17 | Powerstock | 5m walk, West Milton, Loscombe, North Poorton | SY 517 962 | 11 | 21 | Pucketts Wood | (WT) | ST 467 012 | 6 | 12 | yes | Roundham | Mancombe wood (WT) | ST 427 102 | 4 | 9 | yes | Ryewater Farm | Nature reserve, SSSI | ST 512 064 | 3 | 6 | yes | Salway Ash | Furleigh Estate Wines | SY 42 981 | DT6 5JF | 8 | 16 | Shipton Hill | Hill Fort | SY 508 922 | 14 | 27 |
| Small, steep hill formed a natural hill fort with little extra fortification. Excellent views. | South Perrott | The Perrott Inn aka The Coach and Horses | 0 | 2 | South Petherton | David Hall Arts Centre (monthly film night) | 8 | 19 | South Petherton | Frogmary Green Farm (Cafe, Farm shop, Walk) | ST 422 162 | 8 | 16 | yes | South Poorton | Nature reserve (DoWT) | ST 5102 9765 | 10 | 18 | yes | South Poorton | Beningfield Wood (WT) | ST 5180 9784 | 10 | 18 | yes | South Poorton | Holloway to West Milton | ST 5180 9784 SY 5030 9630 | 10 | 18 | yes | Sparkford | Motor Museum | ST 609 270 | 21 | 30 | Stembridge | Cider Farm | ST 418 199 | 11 | 25 | Stoford (Yeovil) | Yeovil Junction Railway Centre | BA22 9UU ST 571 141 | 10 | 23 | Stoke-sub-Hamdon | Priory | TA14 6QP | 8 | 21 | Sutton Bingham | Reservoir | ST 548 112 | 7 | 17 | no | Symonsbury | Ilchester Arms | SY 445 935 | 13 | 26 | yes |
| Good place to leave your car to investigate Hell Lane. | Symonsbury | Village, Hell Lane to North Chideaock | SY 445 935 SY 424 938 | 13 | 26 | yes |
| Wonderful holloway - probably the best example! | Thorncombe | 5m walk, Thorncombe and Laymore | ST 375 033 | 8 | 19 | Tintinhull | Gardens (NT) | ST 509 194 | BA22 8PZ | 12 | 21 | no | Toller Porcorum | Walk: Toller Porcorum and Wynford Wwoo | ST 562 980 | 10 | 15 | Trinity Hill | Nature reserve, Wood, old Devon Hedges | SY 304 952 | 16 | 29 | yes | Trinity Hill | Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage | EX13 8TB | 16 | 29 | no | Tytherleigh | Devon, closest point | ST 318 034 | 13 | 22 | Tytherliegh | The Tytherleigh Arms | EX13 7BE | 13 | 23 | yes - in bar |
| A visitor has given a very favorable report of the food, | Waddon hill | Roman fort (site of) | ST 448 015 | 5 | 12 | Wayford | Woods, Lake | ST 398064 | 5 | 12 | yes | West Bay | Watch House cafe (Seafood) | 13 | 25 | West Bay | Coast, walk to Burton Bradstock and Hive Beach | SY463 904 SY 492 888 | 13 | 25 | yes | West Coker Fen | Nature reserve (SWT) | ST 503 138 | 6 | 12 | yes | West Milton | Walk South Poorton | SY 5030 9630 ST 518W0 9784 | 10 | 21 | yes | West Milton | West Milton Cider | SY 499 963 | 10 | 21 | Whitestaunton | Roman villa remains | ST 281 104 | 14 | 26 | Winterbourne | Poor Lot (Stone age barrows) (EH) | SY 588 907 | DT2 9XD | 15 | 22 | Winterbourne Abbas | The Nine Stones (Stone circle EH) | SY 613 624 | 16 | 24 | yes | Wooton Fitzpaine | Conegar Hill (WT) | SY 379 955 | 14 | 29 | yes | Wooton Hill | Wood, ancient Devon hedges | SY 3545 9695 | 12 | 26 | yes | Yarty Moor | Yarty Moor (SWT) | ST 235 159 | 17 | 30 | yes | Yeovil | Town (largest nearby), Morrisons, Asda, Lidl (2 off), Aldi | 11 | 22 | Yeovil | Nine Springs Country Park | ST 555 155 | 11 | 22 | yes | Yeovilton | Fleet Air Arm Museum | ST 555 243 | BA22 8HT | 16 | 26 |
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