Greetings, fellow Ricknicks! I’m visiting the Somerset area for a long weekend at the end of February and will have only one free day to explore the area. I’ll be based in Yeovil. Any suggestions for memorable experiences? I’ll be traveling by either train or taxi. I gravitate toward the eccentric. I love to see how food is made. I dig history — especially Roman and Elizabethan (I’ve been to Bath though). I’m a big art lover, most any time period (planning a stop most Bristol to check out the street murals). And gardens. Thanks in advance for your help!
I would take a local bus (81) to Montacute to see the National Trust property. Tell the driver to inform you when to get off.
The next town E of Yeovil is Sherborne and it is very attractive. Although Yeovil & Sherborne are linked by rail, it is probably best to use the bus (CR5) as the train goes from Yeovil Junction - a little way S of the town. (The trains from Bristol arrive at Yeovil Pen Mill - on the east side of town. You could also consider using that line to go down to Weymouth on the coast).
Buses https://www.southwestcoaches.co.uk/Bus-Timetables
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/somerset/montacute-house
https://www.visit-dorset.com/sherborne/
https://www.visit-dorset.com/explore/areas-to-visit/weymouth/
That CR5 bus (and the trains) also go to Dorchester (Dorset)- for its Roman and Prehistoric history (notably the Maumbry Rings and Maiden Castle for the latter).
For Sherborne there are other buses from Yeovil apart from the CR5 - the #58 run by First Somerset- every two hours from Yeovil at 0830 then 45 minutes past every even hour, coming back at 25 minutes past every even hour.
What day of the week is your free day- hopefully not Sunday when it will be train or taxi only?
These are great ideas — thank you! Our free day will be on a Friday.
There is definitely more to see in Bristol than just the street murals, though I'm aware you might have meant that as an exaggeration :)
If you like history then definitely pay a visit to Bristol Cathedral. It's a very old place and has some of its original cloister garden remaining with Norman architecture. They're also doing some very good work talking about the Transatlantic Slave trade if that sort of history interests you.
I also highly recommend the SS Great Britain, an old steamship in a dry dock.
If you're into eccentricity, M-Shed is a free museum about the history of Bristol. It's quite an eclectic mix of artefacts and videos from the past and really fits with Bristol's vibes if you know what I mean.
Have fun!
It sounds like the Hauser & Wirth Gallery and garden in Bruton is ideal for you -https://www.hauserwirth.com/locations/10068-hauser-wirth-somerset/ A modern art gallery with a garden by the famous Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.
You can get there by train from Yeovil Pen Mill station in about 20 minutes and it's less than half a mile to walk.
I visited the Hauser & Wirth garden (Bruton) in August - when the prairie style planting was at its peak. I don’t think the garden will be up to much in February.
I love going to Hauser and Wirth. They have some really interesting exhibitions and the garden is fabulous although not enormous. Oh and it’s free as well!
Bruton itself is a pretty town to wander around. There’s a very old almshouse on the high street and a small museum.
For Roman history visit Dorchester. Bus or train will get you there. There is a well preserved Roman town house, Maiden Castle, Maumbury Rings and Dorset museum and art gallery. The latter has a large selection of Roman history including mosaics you can walk on, and one of the Roman skeletons found at Maiden Castle. In addition there is a temporary Gladiator exhibition running from January to May.
The town no longer has a Roman wall. However the Victorians who destroyed the walls did plant trees where the walls were. This makes for an interesting town walk.
Yes you are right about the Hauser and Wirth garden. I didn’t clock it was a Feb visit. The garden is really not good in winter. Most English gardens are planted to have some colour and look fairly decent all year round so I was quite surprised by the sea of brown that this was in January.