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Minehead is a small town on the northern coast of the county of Somerset, facing the Bristol Channel. Inland, Minehead is surrounded on almost all sides by the boundaries of Exmoor National Park. Like much of this part of England, Minehead has shown evidence of Bronze and Iron Age habitation, and it later became a small fishing port area. However, it is now known more as a resort area, most famously for its Butlins holiday camp, which brings thousands of holidaymakers to the area every summer. This resort following noticeably boosts the seasonal population of Minehead, which although comparatively small in size is one of Somerset’s larger towns.
Minehead carries some pleasant historic elements. The town is overshadowed by North Hill, from which visitors can look north towards the channel and the coast of Wales or south to the Somerset hills. The town itself is comprised of what were originally several separate districts. The historic Higher Town sits at the top, and is one of the oldest parts of Minehead. Under this is the quay area, upon which the town built its earliest fortunes. The third component is the lower town. Unfortunately, with the exception of a small row of buildings dating to the 1630s, the heritage of much of this district was lost in a huge fire in the 1700s.
Minehead is tailored to visitors, so its town centre offers reasonable high street shopping and it has a pleasant sandy beach. Between the two sits Blenheim Gardens, a central point of the town dating to the early 20th century. In terms of transport, there are rail links to Taunton, Somerset’s county town, and road links into Exmoor National Park, whose desolate beauty is truly stunning. The famous poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge both spent time in this part of the West Country, and after following their footsteps across these beautiful hills, it is not difficult to see how they gained their inspiration.
Minehead carries some pleasant historic elements. The town is overshadowed by North Hill, from which visitors can look north towards the channel and the coast of Wales or south to the Somerset hills. The town itself is comprised of what were originally several separate districts. The historic Higher Town sits at the top, and is one of the oldest parts of Minehead. Under this is the quay area, upon which the town built its earliest fortunes. The third component is the lower town. Unfortunately, with the exception of a small row of buildings dating to the 1630s, the heritage of much of this district was lost in a huge fire in the 1700s.
Minehead is tailored to visitors, so its town centre offers reasonable high street shopping and it has a pleasant sandy beach. Between the two sits Blenheim Gardens, a central point of the town dating to the early 20th century. In terms of transport, there are rail links to Taunton, Somerset’s county town, and road links into Exmoor National Park, whose desolate beauty is truly stunning. The famous poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge both spent time in this part of the West Country, and after following their footsteps across these beautiful hills, it is not difficult to see how they gained their inspiration.