Butlin's Minehead - Out and About

Since the new Butlin's Ambassador list was announced a few weeks ago, I have seen a few people trying to decide which resort they would like to spend their break. Knowing how popular Bognor Regis is, I thought I would add my final post about our stay at Minehead because I feel that this resort has a lot to offer families both on (as previously reviewed here and here) and off campus.

When we stayed at Butlin's Minehead resort back in May, we chose this site because of its proximity to our home making it a short drive with the boys (about one hour) and because it is set in a glorious setting with its sandy beach and the stunning Somerset countryside. Although the Butlin's campus has plenty to see and do to keep you and your family entertained, and for a short break you may not feel the need to venture off and explore the surrounding area, I would urge you to go out and about and discover what this area has to offer.

Literally, a 10 minute walk from the entrance to Butlin's is the West Somerset Railway station which enables you to travel to various stations dotted along the West Somerset route in a steam locomotive. We didnt want to travel too far in case the boys got bored, so we bought return tickets to Watchet which including a wait for our return train took about an hour and a half and cost about £25 (I think!)

If you love seeing the countryside and enjoy a step back in time to travel by steam, then this is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours. There is also a buffet cart on board run by volunteers which offers hot and cold drinks and snacks - ideal for keeping mummy and daddy two boys happy en route!

Just outside Minehead is the picturesque village of Dunster which contains a mix of tea rooms, restuarants, gift shops, ice cream and sweet shops so is worth a walk around. Over looking the village is Dunster Castle (owned by the National Trust) formerly a motte and bailey castle and now a stately home. As well as the house which you can walk around (with some lovely staff who were very friendly towards Burton and Jenson), there are also some cellars which have bats which happily hang from the ceilings! It also boasts some beautiful grounds, although it rained on the day that we visited so we did not see much of these. 

Another great way to spend a couple of hours is to take a drive out of Minehead up North Hill Road and within a few minutes you are heading out towards the stunning scenery of Exmoor. It really is breathtaking - you have the Bristol Channel on one side with glimpses of Wales in the distance, while on the other the rugged landscape of Exmoor. We drove to Bossington Hill and the views are amazing - even if Jenson was asleep by the time we got there!

Obviously living not too far from Minehead ourselves, we did not feel the need to visit other well known beauty spots like Porlock and Lynton and Lynmouth but these are other beautiful places to see if you fancy a short road trip.

I have written this post as part of my work as a Butlins Ambassador