Days out from Hunter's Moon

Hunter's Moon sits in the middle of Somerset, which means half the county's attractions are within a forty-minute drive and the rest within an hour. Wells, Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, Bath and the coast each have their own pages; here are the other great days out.

A fighter jet landing at RNAS Yeovilton, home of the Fleet Air Arm Museum — The Fleet Air Arm Museum sits beside a working naval air station at Yeovilton

Longleat (23 miles)

The UK's original safari park and one of its grandest Elizabethan houses, with lions, tigers, giraffes, the famous monkeys, a hedge maze, boat trips past the gorillas and, in winter, the spectacular Festival of Light. A full day for all ages. longleat.co.uk

Stourhead (18 miles)

The National Trust's world-famous landscape garden: a lake ringed with classical temples, a grotto and rhododendrons, at its best in May and again in October when the trees turn. The Palladian house, the King Alfred's Tower folly and the Spread Eagle inn complete the day.

Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton (14 miles)

The history of British naval aviation in four huge halls: a Concorde you can walk through, a Second World War carrier flight deck experience, Harriers, helicopters and a Swordfish, with real Navy jets landing next door. fleetairarm.com

Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford (11 miles)

More than 400 cars and motorbikes from a 1903 Oldsmobile to modern supercars, including the famous Red Room of fifty red sports cars. A great wet-weather day, with a cafe and play area.

Frome (19 miles)

Explore the historic, vibrant and charming streets of Frome, with more than 500 listed buildings, some dating back to the fifteenth century. Walk up the steep cobbled Catherine Hill with its cafes and independent shops, and visit on the first Sunday of the month for the Frome Independent market. discoverfrome.co.uk

Muchelney Abbey (18 miles)

A fascinating site near Langport, once a landmark on the Somerset Levels. Originally a wealthy Benedictine house and the second-oldest religious foundation in Somerset, with a superb abbot's lodging. Combine with the Priest's House and John Leach's pottery in the village. english-heritage.org.uk

Taunton (27 miles)

The county town of Somerset: the county cricket ground, Taunton Castle and the Museum of Somerset, the Brewhouse Theatre, good shopping and Vivary Park. visitsomerset.co.uk

Shaftesbury (25 miles)

The Dorset hilltop town famous for Gold Hill, the cobbled street from the Hovis advert, with abbey ruins and views across Blackmore Vale.

Clarks Village, Street (7 miles)

Britain's first outlet shopping village on the site of the original Clarks shoe factory, with more than ninety stores, cafes and the Shoe Museum. See shopping.

East Somerset Railway, Cranmore (10 miles)

Steam trains on a heritage line founded by the artist David Shepherd, with a cafe, engine sheds and special events including Santa specials.

Sherborne (20 miles)

A golden-stone Dorset town with a magnificent abbey, two castles (one built by Sir Walter Raleigh) and excellent independent shops.

Castle Cary and Bruton (8 to 12 miles)

Two pretty small towns: Castle Cary for its market house and mainline station, Bruton for the Hauser & Wirth art gallery, its restaurant and walled garden, and the medieval dovecote on the hill.

Full pages for the big ones

Half of Somerset within forty minutes

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