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Itinerary
Steaming through Somerset, Glastonbury & Sheppy’s Cider
From a morning pickup in your local area, we travel by coach to our hotel.
Steaming through Somerset, Glastonbury & Sheppy’s Cider
We board the West Somerset Railway for a nostalgic steam journey stretching 20 miles from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. Travelling through the gently rolling Quantock Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we pass unspoilt villages and rural farms before following the cliffs and coast between Exmoor and the Bristol Channel with distant views of South Wales. We disembark in the traditional resort of Minehead with its promenade, long sandy beach and harbour, where we have some time to explore at leisure. Our return train journey is on the diesel service.
Steaming through Somerset, Glastonbury & Sheppy’s Cider
The historic market town of Glastonbury is our first destination, steeped in wonder and mystery. Popular with those seeking spiritual enlightenment, it’s synonymous with the largest music festival in the world but also boasts over 100 listed buildings, a fascinating museum, a holy well, atmospheric abbey ruins and a whole host of weird and wonderful shops.
Next is the nearby Clarks Outlet Village, offering a variety of stores featuring discounted items. With savings of up to 60% off RRP and over 90 designer and high street brands to pick from, this relaxed shopping destination is perfect for finding great deals on footwear, clothing, beauty and home goods.
Full Day
Steaming through Somerset, Glastonbury & Sheppy’s Cider
We make our way to the family-run Sheppy’s Cider Farm, one of the world’s oldest and most respected independent cider makers. Nestled in the heart of the Somerset countryside, Sheppy’s has been crafting award-winning ciders for over 200 years, with six generations of cider-making expertise. Set on a picturesque 370-acre farm, the entire process, from apple growing and harvesting to pressing, fermenting and bottling, takes place on-site.
During our visit, we enjoy a guided tour that takes us behind the scenes of this traditional yet innovative operation, learning about the heritage apple orchards, time-honoured methods and modern techniques that go into every bottle. We also have the opportunity to sample a selection of Sheppy’s finest ciders during a delicious tasting.
Half Day
Steaming through Somerset, Glastonbury & Sheppy’s Cider
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and board the coach for the journey home.
Minehead Seaside Promenade and Harbour
Stroll the Minehead promenade, a classic West Country seafront lined with tea rooms and ice-cream kiosks, and breathe the salt air above the long sandy beach. Wander to the Victorian harbour for bobbing boats and lighthouse views, with vistas stretching across the Bristol Channel toward the Welsh coast.
Absorb the coastal charm of this traditional resort, gateway to Exmoor’s moorland heights. Seek out the Church Steps cottages tucked into the hillside, watch RNLI lifeboats on standby, and capture the soft light that makes Minehead a favorite for relaxed seaside photography.
Glastonbury Town, Abbey Ruins and Tor Views
Explore Glastonbury’s characterful lanes, where incense-scented bookshops and quirky independent shops reflect a long association with myth and mysticism. Take time to contemplate the storied Glastonbury Abbey ruins and enjoy distant sightlines to Glastonbury Tor, the hill crowned by St Michael’s Tower and entwined with Isle of Avalon legends.
Unpack layers of history in a town with more than 100 listed buildings and early Christian heritage. King Arthur traditions, medieval pilgrimage, and dramatic Dissolution stories all echo amid tranquil gardens and stonework, offering rich context to this uniquely atmospheric Somerset settlement.
Clarks Village Designer Outlet Visit
Visit Clarks Village in Street, Britain’s original outlet shopping destination, set among landscaped courtyards and converted factory buildings. Browse over 90 designer and high-street brands for apparel, footwear, beauty and homeware, often with savings of up to 60% off RRP in a relaxed, pedestrian-friendly setting.
Connect with local craft heritage rooted in the shoemaking heritage of C. & J. Clark, whose 19th-century enterprise shaped the town. Cafés and green spaces create easy pauses between stores, making this stop as pleasant for ambling and people-watching as it is for savvy shopping.
Sheppy’s Cider Farm Guided Tour and Tasting
Experience a guided tour and tasting at Sheppy’s Cider Farm, where six generations have pressed Somerset apples for over two centuries. Walk amid heritage apple orchards, step inside the mill and vats, and discover how traditional craft blends with modern technique from harvest to bottle.
Gain insight into West Country cider culture—aromas of fermenting fruit, gleaming presses, and maturation in traditional oak vats. Sample a curated flight of styles, comparing crisp, dry blends with richer, oak-kissed ciders. This half-day visit captures the flavour, landscape and lineage of Somerset in every glass.
West Somerset Railway Steam Journey through the Quantocks
Ride a heritage train journey on the West Somerset Railway, a 20-mile line from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead that threads the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Watch hedgerows, stone-built halts and open farmland slip by before the line sweeps along the cliffs and coast between Exmoor and the Bristol Channel.
Learn how this is Britain’s longest standard-gauge heritage railway, revived by volunteers from former Great Western tracks. Vintage carriages, semaphore signals and characterful stations create an evocative mood, with moments to pause for photos and reflection at scenic stops along the route.
