Minehead holiday - days out by train (or car)?

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

We're off to Minehead for our family holiday at the end of June this year (I say family, although we are all adults).

I've just started looking for ideas of things to do when we are there.

Could I pick the brains of people for familiar with the area for any suggestions of days out (both by train or otherwise*).  As I'm on holiday, I want to drive as little as possible.  We would probably be going from Taunton if travelling by train.  Bear in mind that I live in Bristol and often visit W-s-M, so wouldn't want to be travelling to that area!

I was looking at a Devon Day Ranger but not sure whether this could justify the 55 minutes drive to Tiverton Parkway?

Also, any suggestions of places to visit in Exmoor National Park (this would have to be in the car)?  I've never been to North Devon so would love to explore the area well.

TIA^▸ (Transient Ischemic Attack (aka "mini-stroke")) and all suggestions welcome

* = My mum has a belief that trains are still like they were in the 60s (apparently): old**, dirty things that are very expensive - so any train suggestions would need to be cheap!
** = Yes, I know the newest HST^▸ (High Speed Train) is still 33 years old!

[John R]

Your mother won't be disappointed when she arrives at Minehead Station (with the exception that the scene is more 50s than 60s.)

So West Somerset Railway obviously. You can use Days Out vouchers from Tesco to reduce the cost.  Lynton & Lynmouth is a good day out, and you can visit the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway as well. A drive up Porlock Hill is worth doing for no other reason than to do it. Dunster Castle is quite interesting.

If you feel like a strenuous walk you can try the first couple of miles of the South West Coast Path, which starts at Minehead. Don't keep walking though, as Poole is rather a long way away.   

[Chris from Nailsea]

I heartily endorse all of John R's suggestions. 

[devon_metro]

Only place I've been to in north Devon is Bude so can't really help. W.r.t a Devon Ranger, is Barnstaple closer than Tiverton?

[John R]

I heartily endorse all of John R's suggestions. 

I'm surprised you didn't add the suggestion of a day trip to Taunton, Chris. 

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

bude is cornwall 

anywhoooo

im scaring myself now but as i know this area very well im there every day..... cringe but i know its true.... the busses are actually very good up that way cant comment on price but from minehead you have regular services to taunton and bridgewater and a day ticket on one of these would give you a chance for dunster castle (as already suggested) also Cleeve Abbey,watchet ,blue anchor if you enjoy walking there are some beautiful walks around Luxborough (alot of hills tho!), as for places to go for lunch the newly refurbished letherbridge arms in bishops lydeard is very good! alot of effort has gone in there, as for the devon ranger if you were thinking of tivvy parkway from minehead drive threw Wiveliscombe its faster :-)

[JayMac]

Concur with Lynton and Lynmouth. The A39 from Minehead to Lynmouth is a pretty scenic drive when the weather is clear. En route you have Porlock and various other locations (Oare, Malmsmead, Brendon) that featured in R.D. Blackmore's Lorna Doone - although the Doone Valley and it's waterfall appear to be a figment of RDB's imagination! At Lynmouth you can park up and take the Cliff Railway up to Lynton.

Beyond Lynton there is the very picturesque Valley of the Rocks, a summer Sunday afternoon/evening watching a cricket match as the sun sets at the Valley of the Rocks cricket ground is one of my ideas of heaven.



Also nearby at Woody Bay is the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. The first section of which re-opened in 2004.

IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion), this part of Somerset/Devon where Exmoor meets the Bristol Channel is the one of the most beautiful parts of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

just dont try porlock hill when its snowing that aint fun!

[Chris from Nailsea]

You didn't ... did you?? 

[JayMac]

To further add to the attractions of Lynton and Lynmouth there is the Lynmouth Disaster Memorial Hall detailing the story of the major flash flood in August 1952 which destroyed much of Lynmouth and sadly took 34 lives. The Memorial Hall contains many photos and news clippings from that terrible day along with models of the town before and after.

Also in Lynton there is the delightfully quaint Lyn and Exmoor Museum

[Bob_Blakey]

As you say you wish to avoid driving as much as possible you might find http://www.cartogold.co.uk/Devon_Transport/Devon.htm useful.

Personally I would highly recommend a trip over to Barnstaple and then a cycle ride from there along the Tarka^▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Trail, which uses the old railway trackbed, as far as you want to go - it is level all the way to Torrington and on a decent day the scenery is frequently stunning. There is a cycle hire centre at Barnstaple Railway Station.

[JayMac]

The alternative to a drive from Minehead to Lynmouth is to take the open-topped bus.  Service 300 operated by Quantock Motor Services. 4 return trips daily (3 on Sundays). The services then connect into Filers Travel service 300 (not open topped on this leg) at Lynmouth for onward travel to Illfracombe - another pleasant, relatively unspoilt seaside town.

Much better views from the top deck than sat in a car!

A leaflet in .pdf form detailing all bus services on Exmoor National Park can be found here.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

You didn't ... did you?? 

haha I've done worse I'm the van killer.... Was a beautiful view tho!!

[RichardB]

The alternative to a drive from Minehead to Lynmouth is to take the open-topped bus.  Service 300 operated by Quantock Motor Services. 4 return trips daily (3 on Sundays). The services then connect into Filers Travel service 300 (not open topped on this leg) at Lynmouth for onward travel to Illfracombe - another pleasant, relatively unspoilt seaside town.

Much better views from the top deck than sat in a car!

A leaflet in .pdf form detailing all bus services on Exmoor National Park can be found here.

Just to add to this suggestion, the Lynton - Barnstaple bus passes Woody Bay station, making a trip to the L & B very feasible.  Route 309/310 run by TW Coaches.

[Brucey]

Thanks for all the ideas - I didn't quite expect this many

I'll write down a list of everything suggested here and look into it in more detail once my dreaded exams are finished.  What we do will probably depend on the weather!  Will let you know what we ended up doing when I get back (maybe with a photograph quiz if I collect enough pictures!)

So West Somerset Railway obviously. You can use Days Out vouchers from Tesco to reduce the cost.

I did look at this but was put off by the cost.  But since you've mentioned Tesco vouchers, I will see how many we can pool together to bring down the cost as this makes the price very reasonable.