Activities & Family Days out around Exmoor and West Somerset
Family Activites Somerset & Devon
Exmoor Adventures in Porlock offers adrenaline fueled fun both on and off the water. Channel Adventure in Minehead also offers a variety of adventurous activities from axe throwing to paddle boarding, there's something for everyone! There are also watersports available on nearby Wimbleball Lake. For surfing lessons head over to the other side of Exmoor to Saunton Sands, Croyde or Putsborough.
Wiveliscombe has an outdoor swimming pool, skate park and outdoor children's playground.
Just a short drive from Middle Stone Farm, Tropiquaria offers a wonderfully quirky and family-friendly day out near Watchet. Set within a striking 1930s Art Deco BBC radio transmitter building, this unique attraction combines a small zoo, tropical house and play areas all in one place.
Inside, visitors can explore the warm tropical hall, home to reptiles, birds and exotic species, alongside an aquarium featuring a variety of fish. Outdoors, there are enclosures with animals ranging from meerkats and lemurs to wallabies and birds, giving children plenty to discover as they wander around.
Unusual Tropiquaria Zoo housed in a 1930s art deco radio transmitter building is 15-20 minutes from us - with both indoor and outdoor areas that keep younger visitors entertained whatever the forecast. Inside, visitors can explore the warm tropical hall, home to reptiles, birds and exotic species, alongside an aquarium featuring a variety of fish. Outdoors, there are enclosures with animals ranging from meerkats and lemurs to wallabies and birds, giving children plenty to discover.
For cycling we recommend The Great Western Canal Cycle Route near Tiverton, it's flat and easy and there are pubs along the way. There's a good playground at Samford Peverell, and if you like strawberry picking, stop at Halberton Farm Shop nearby. There's a small tarmac cycle path, suitable for young children between Blue Anchor beach and Dunster beach.
Nearby Watchet has East Quay - a community led arts center with contemporary art and artist's studios on the harbour edge - see their events page for happenings, talks, children's activities during the school holidays - it also has a great cafe.
Flip Out Trampoline Park in nearby Wellington is good for a rainy day and for parents. Tickets at Minehead cinema are only around £6 a seat. We also like the newly built independent Scott Cinema in Bridgwater, there's also a big Odeon cinema and Bowling in Taunton.
If you're heading to South Devon, no trip is complete without a stop at the Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth, it's about an hour from here - free - just leave a donation. Open every day 9-5. Miniature donkeys, gardens, cake, they also have a brilliant maze!!
Exeter is 45 minutes drive from us with the excellent RAM Museum (free), cathedral and lots going on. Taunton is 25 minutes away with the smaller Somerset Museum (also free). Vivary Park is lovely and also has a golf and adventure centre. . Glastonbury is curious with its crystal shops, Somerset Rural Life Museum and the iconic Glastonbury Tor, Clarks Village is nearby for retail therapy! If you want to visit Bristol, there are really good museums there and fantastic places to eat, it's only half an hour on the train from Taunton, or about 1hr 20 minutes in the car.
The West Somerset Railway - vintage steam trains you can hop on and off runs very close by to us, we recommend a short journey unless you're a train enthusiast - a short journey at the end of the line from Dunster to Minehead is probably enough for restless children!
Here is our National Trust page including Dunster Castle.
Wiveliscombe has an outdoor swimming pool, skate park and outdoor children's playground.
Just a short drive from Middle Stone Farm, Tropiquaria offers a wonderfully quirky and family-friendly day out near Watchet. Set within a striking 1930s Art Deco BBC radio transmitter building, this unique attraction combines a small zoo, tropical house and play areas all in one place.
Inside, visitors can explore the warm tropical hall, home to reptiles, birds and exotic species, alongside an aquarium featuring a variety of fish. Outdoors, there are enclosures with animals ranging from meerkats and lemurs to wallabies and birds, giving children plenty to discover as they wander around.
Unusual Tropiquaria Zoo housed in a 1930s art deco radio transmitter building is 15-20 minutes from us - with both indoor and outdoor areas that keep younger visitors entertained whatever the forecast. Inside, visitors can explore the warm tropical hall, home to reptiles, birds and exotic species, alongside an aquarium featuring a variety of fish. Outdoors, there are enclosures with animals ranging from meerkats and lemurs to wallabies and birds, giving children plenty to discover.
For cycling we recommend The Great Western Canal Cycle Route near Tiverton, it's flat and easy and there are pubs along the way. There's a good playground at Samford Peverell, and if you like strawberry picking, stop at Halberton Farm Shop nearby. There's a small tarmac cycle path, suitable for young children between Blue Anchor beach and Dunster beach.
Nearby Watchet has East Quay - a community led arts center with contemporary art and artist's studios on the harbour edge - see their events page for happenings, talks, children's activities during the school holidays - it also has a great cafe.
Flip Out Trampoline Park in nearby Wellington is good for a rainy day and for parents. Tickets at Minehead cinema are only around £6 a seat. We also like the newly built independent Scott Cinema in Bridgwater, there's also a big Odeon cinema and Bowling in Taunton.
If you're heading to South Devon, no trip is complete without a stop at the Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth, it's about an hour from here - free - just leave a donation. Open every day 9-5. Miniature donkeys, gardens, cake, they also have a brilliant maze!!
Exeter is 45 minutes drive from us with the excellent RAM Museum (free), cathedral and lots going on. Taunton is 25 minutes away with the smaller Somerset Museum (also free). Vivary Park is lovely and also has a golf and adventure centre. . Glastonbury is curious with its crystal shops, Somerset Rural Life Museum and the iconic Glastonbury Tor, Clarks Village is nearby for retail therapy! If you want to visit Bristol, there are really good museums there and fantastic places to eat, it's only half an hour on the train from Taunton, or about 1hr 20 minutes in the car.
The West Somerset Railway - vintage steam trains you can hop on and off runs very close by to us, we recommend a short journey unless you're a train enthusiast - a short journey at the end of the line from Dunster to Minehead is probably enough for restless children!
Here is our National Trust page including Dunster Castle.
