Nether Stowey

Set in the foothills of the Quantocks, Nether Stowey was home to Coleridge between 1797 and 1799.  Coleridge Cottage is now owned by the National Trust and can be visited from 1st April to 30th September between 2 pm and 5pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. There are also the remains of an 11th century castle.

This relatively large village has pubs, shops, tea shops, the AONB visitor information centre, car park and WC.

Information on

Coleridge Cottage

can be found on

the National Trust website

Holford

On the edge of the Quantock Hills, surrounded by beautiful combes, Holford has strong links with Coleridge and Wordsworth who lived at Alfoxton Park. There are remains of Huguenot silk mills nearby.

There is a pub,tea gardens and car park.

West Quantoxhead

This village, also known as St Audries, lies on the A39.  It was formerly in the St Audries Manor Estate, which can be seen from the route through the forest.  

There is a pub in the village and a shop further along the A39.

Bicknoller

The Trendle Ring, an iron age settlement, lies above the village, which is on the lower slopes of the Quantocks.  Part of the church, which has a huge yew tree in its grounds, dates from the 12th century  

There is a pub and a community-run shop.

Sampford Brett

A quiet and pleasant village lying in a shallow valley cut by the Sampford Stream running from Aller. It takes its name from a sandy ford and the Brett family of French origin.  St Georges Church dates from 13thC.

There are no facilities.

Monksilver

Nestling in the Brendon Hills on the boundary of Exmoor National Park, this village takes its name from the Latin "Silva" meaning woodland i.e Monks Wood.  The 12th century church is built of red sandstone.

There is a pub in the village.

Roadwater

A long, straggling village in a deep wooded valley, Roadwater is famous for its links with the old West Somerset Mineral Railway Line, which transported iron ore from the Brendon Hills to Watchet in the 19th century.

There is a pub and a shop.

Luxborough

Luxborough is divided into three: Kingsbridge, Pooltown and Churchtown.  It lies at 600 feet, in a valley between the Brendon and Croydon Hills, surrounded by woodland.  

The river Washford rises near the village, which has a pub and seasonal tea garden.

Wheddon Cross

A crossroads village that grew when the Minehead to Bampton turnpike was built in the 1820's. This settlement is one of the highest on Exmoor and is famous for its Snowdrop Valley in the nearby Avill Valley.

There is a pub, tea rooms shops, a car park and WC.

Horner

This cluster of houses near Luccombe, Horner Water and the ancient Horner Wood is part of the National Trust Holnicote Estate. The late medieval pack horse bridge is also known as Hacketty Bridge.

There are tea gardens open during the summer months.

Porlock

Surrounded on three sides by Exmoor National Park and to the North by the Bristol Channel, Porlock is famous for its poetry associations.  Coleridge is said to have written Khubla Khan at a farm 3 or 4 miles away.  

There are a number of pubs, shops and tea rooms, plus a Visitor Centre, car parks and WC.