CATEGORIES

Up on the Down

Try this easy-to-follow Exmoor walk with SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE

Shop until you drop

It’s Somerset’s county town, it’s the place to go for the big shops, but Taunton is also home to a thriving independent scene, discovers CATHERINE COURTENAY

Creatures of the night

Have you ever had something swoop past your ear, almost unseen? You may have had a brief encounter with a bat, says BERNARD BALE

Bowled over

Now that we can return to skittle and bowling alleys - albeit with new rules BERNARD BALE reveals that the sport of bowling has many Somerset links

Trackway through time

In the Somerset Levels SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE discovers a place where our Neolithic heritage rubs shoulders with the present day

SAVING THE SPLENDOUR OF EXMOOR

The splendour of Exmoor National Park may appear timeless and untroubled, but a new book reveals the long and often bitter struggle conservationists faced to save the landscape from the twin threats of afforestation and the plough

Decorative art

Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality

Charity starts at home

How do we teach our children the importance of giving back?

Blooming brilliant

Will and Lauren Holley purchased a four-acre field in Somerset, converted it into a nursery, opened during lockdown and now their perennial plants are flying off the shelves. JULIE HARDING meets the go-getting couple

Age-old advice

Just become a grandparent for the first time? Perhaps you need a little guidance, so here are some top tips about how to embrace your new family role

8 Somerset Ghost Stories

Somerset’s an ancient county with more ghost stories than you can wave a poltergeist at, so Steve Roberts picks eight of his favourite

12 Things To Do This Autumn

Summer may have faded away, but now’s the time to celebrate everything that makes Somerset a unique place to explore in the autumn months, says Catherine Courtenay

On The Trail Of King Arthur In Somerset

Many legends surrounding King Arthur have become synonymous with places in Somerset as author Andrew Beattie explains

THIS MONTH WE VISIT Rickford

In our special series Catherine Courtenay takes a look at village life in Somerset

Sun & air

SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE brings us a walk deep in the woods and high in the hills of the fabulous Mendips

Sir Ran still loves Somerset

He has climbed Everest and trudged across the Antarctic, but British superhero Sir Ranulph Fiennes still likes to enjoy taking in the place where it all started for him, he tells BERNARD BALE

LOSING OUR WAYS

Footpaths are potentially being lost, says SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE, who talks to the Ramblers to find out what we can do

Living with loss

If you’re experiencing bereavement, don’t forget to be kind to yourself

A shining star

It’s the go-to place for the rich and famous, but Bruton still retains its links to the past and reveals a thriving sense of community spirit, as CATHERINE COURTENAY discovers

A socially-distanced holiday

By the time August came around, CHARLOTTE SKIDMORE and family felt the need for a change of scenery – but what would a holiday in the ‘new normal’ look like?

What's cooking?

Fresh styles and innovative ideas to inspire that dream kitchen

IN THE MAKING

The Frome Independent was genuinely one of the reasons I came to live in the town,” says Helen Bakunowicz.

Putting the best hoof forward

For some people, horses are far more than just pets – they can be highly valuable, with price tags in excess of tens of thousands of pounds

Wellow

In our special series Catherine Courtenay takes a look at the village life in Somerset

Walking through the streets of Wellington

CATHERINE COURTENAY takes a look at some of the notable buildings that lie hidden among the streets of Wellington

Bon appétit Bath

Bath’s varied food and drink scene makes it one of the best foodie cities in the country. VISIT BATH highlights some favourite places to eat, drink and buy locally-made goodies

SOMERSET'S SECRET GARDENS

Somerset’s gardens are as beautiful and varied as the county itself, discovers author ABIGAIL WILLIS

LET'S TALK ABOUT- Harvest mice

Pauline Kidner , founder of Somerset animal charity Secret World, talks all things wildlife with us

CREAM TEA TREKS

Tea and walking are a perfect partnership, so SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE goes in search of the best Somerset cream teas

Alfresco dining

With lockdown restrictions lifted, Somerset’s restaurants and pubs are back in business and many saw a demand for outside dining. CATHERINE COURTENAY uncovers a few of the county’s alfresco delights