Somerset is a land of dramatic geological variety, from the 400-foot limestone cliffs of Cheddar Gorge down across the peat-rich Somerset Levels to the wild coastal moors of Exmoor. At its heart lies Wells, England's smallest and most atmospheric cathedral city, alongside the ancient legends of King Arthur and the holy thorn at Glastonbury.
Access across Somerset varies with the terrain: cathedral precincts and town centres provide level stone pavements, while Cheddar Gorge cliffs and Glastonbury Tor require steep uphill foot climbs. We report verified access details for every stop so you can choose the routes that work for you.
Allow unhurried time in Wells to explore both the cathedral and the moated Bishop's Palace; the drive across the Mendips down into Cheddar Gorge is one of the most thrilling scenic roads in southern England.
Day one — Wells Cathedral and the moated palace
Start in England's smallest cathedral city. Admire the Early English Gothic West Front and scissor arches of Wells Cathedral before crossing the drawbridge to explore the 13th-century Bishop's Palace, its tranquil spring pools, and its famous bell-ringing swans.
Wells Cathedral
England's first truly Gothic cathedral, famous for its scissor arches, West Front and astronomical clock.
Wells Cathedral rises in England's smallest cathedral city, acclaimed as one of the great ecclesiastical masterpieces of Europe. Built between 1175 and 1240, it features a majestic West Front with over 300 surviving medieval statues, unique 14th-century interior scissor arches, and the world's second-oldest working clock face.
Our tip Be in the north transept on the quarter-hour to watch the mechanical knights joust above the famous 1392 astronomical clock.
Plan your visit
- Opening
- Open Monday–Saturday 09:00–17:15, Sunday 12:00–16:45 (subject to church services).
- Admission
- Adult admission £14.00 (valid as an annual pass for 12 months), under-16s free with an adult.
- Booking
- Tickets available online or on arrival at the welcome desk.
Visitor information checked 13 Sep 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Visiting — good to know
Step-free / wheelchair access Accessible parking Accessible toilets Hearing loop Assistance dogs welcome Companion goes free — all visitors
The cathedral nave, quire, retroquire and cloisters are level and wheelchair-accessible. Ramped access at the main northwest door; the historic Chapter House requires 38 stone steps.
Companion concession Free entry for an essential carer or companion assisting a paying visitor.
Access last checked 13 Sep 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
More Tickets · Venue access information · Wikipedia
The Bishop's Palace & Gardens
A 13th-century moated palace with 14 acres of RHS-partner gardens and famous bell-ringing swans.
Hidden behind medieval gatehouses beside Wells Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace has been home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells for over 800 years. Enclosed by a dramatic water-filled moat and stone ramparts, it features 14 acres of gardens, the tranquil spring pools that give the city its name, and resident mute swans trained to ring a bell beside the Gatehouse for food.
Our tip Watch for the mute swans swimming near the Gatehouse rope to see if they ring their bell for the gatekeeper.
Plan your visit
- Opening
- Open daily 10:00–17:00 (10:00–16:00 from November to March).
- Admission
- Adult admission £17.50 (valid for 12 months' unlimited return visits), children £8.75.
- Booking
- Advance booking gives online savings and quick check-in.
Visitor information checked 13 Sep 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Memberships and passes
- RHS — restrictions apply: RHS member free entry during designated seasonal periods. Official terms (checked 13 Sep 2026)
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible toilets Hearing loop Assistance dogs welcome Companion goes free — all visitors
Most garden pathways are tarmac or gravel and accessible for manual wheelchairs and pushchairs. Ground-floor palace rooms and the Undercroft cafe are level; upper palace rooms and rampart walks feature historic steps.
Companion concession Essential carers receive free admission with a paying disabled guest.
Access last checked 13 Sep 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
More Tickets · Venue access information · Wikipedia
Day two — Cheddar Gorge and the Isle of Avalon
Drive through the dramatic cliff walls of Cheddar Gorge, exploring stalactite show caves and cliff viewpoints. In the afternoon, head south across the Levels to climb the mystical slopes of Glastonbury Tor for sweeping views across the ancient Isle of Avalon.
Cheddar Gorge & Caves
Britain's largest natural gorge, with 400ft limestone cliffs and ancient stalactite caverns.
Carved into the southern Mendip Hills by ice age meltwater, Cheddar Gorge is a spectacular natural chasm running three miles through dramatic limestone ravines. In addition to clifftop trails offering views across Somerset, the gorge is famous for Gough's Cave and Cox's Cave, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton — Cheddar Man — was unearthed.
Our tip Walk the 3.5-mile Clifftop Gorge Walk for breathtaking views from the highest point at Lookout Tower across Cheddar Reservoir and the Somerset Levels.
Plan your visit
- Opening
- Gorge road is open year-round. Show caves open daily 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00).
- Admission
- Free to drive or walk through the gorge. All-inclusive Day Explorer ticket for show caves and cliff walk from £22.95 adult.
- Booking
- Online booking offers up to 15% discount over on-the-day gate prices.
Visitor information checked 13 Sep 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Memberships and passes
- National Trust — restrictions apply: Free access to National Trust-managed clifftops; caves are commercial. Official terms (checked 13 Sep 2026)
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible parking Accessible toilets Assistance dogs welcome Companion goes free — all visitors
The gorge road has continuous paved walkways. Gough's Cave is partially accessible for wheelchairs with some ramps and textured cave pathways. Clifftop walk is strenuous and rocky.
Companion concession Free admission for a registered carer accompanying a paying disabled visitor.
Access last checked 13 Sep 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
More Tickets · Venue access information · Wikipedia
Also featured in Marvels of Britain
Glastonbury Tor
The iconic conical hill crowned by St Michael's Tower, rising high above the Somerset Levels.
Glastonbury Tor is one of the most enigmatic landmarks in Britain, steeped in Celtic mythology and Christian legend as the mythical Isle of Avalon and King Arthur's final resting place. Crowned by the roofless 14th-century St Michael's Tower, it rises 158 metres above the flat peat moors, commanding sweeping vistas over three counties.
Our tip Visit at sunrise when sea mists frequently cover the Levels, leaving the Tor floating magically like an island in an ocean of white cloud.
Plan your visit
- Opening
- Open all year during daylight hours.
- Admission
- Free public access.
- Booking
- No booking required.
Visitor information checked 13 Sep 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Memberships and passes
- National Trust — entry included: National Trust open countryside site. Official terms (checked 13 Sep 2026)
Visiting — good to know
Not step-free
The ascent involves steep concrete steps and paved inclines with no vehicle access. Not suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters; benches are placed along the path.
Access last checked 13 Sep 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Day three — Golden hamstone mansions and Exmoor castles
Explore the architectural triumph of Montacute House, admiring its glowing Elizabethan facade and Long Gallery. Continue west to Dunster Castle, perched high on a wooded tor overlooking medieval Dunster village and the Bristol Channel coast.
Montacute House
A glittering Elizabethan Renaissance mansion in golden hamstone, housing National Portrait Gallery masterpieces.
Built in the late 16th century for Sir Edward Phelips, prosecutor at the trial of Guy Fawkes, Montacute House is a pinnacle of Elizabethan Renaissance domestic architecture. Its warm honey-gold hamstone facade glows in the sun, while its 172-foot Long Gallery — the longest surviving in Britain — houses over 60 Tudor and Jacobean portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.
Our tip Walk the cedar-shaded lime avenue and formal wulfing gardens designed around the original sunken Elizabethan parterre.
Plan your visit
- Opening
- Garden, park and cafe open daily 10:00–17:00. House open daily 11:00–16:00.
- Admission
- Free for National Trust members. Standard adult entry £15.00.
- Booking
- No advance booking required.
Visitor information checked 13 Sep 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Memberships and passes
- National Trust — entry included: Free entry and parking for National Trust members. Official terms (checked 13 Sep 2026)
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible parking Accessible toilets Assistance dogs welcome Companion goes free — all visitors
Garden paths are flat and accessible; gravel drives surround the house. Ground floor of mansion is step-free; upper floors including the Long Gallery require climbing historic spiral stairs.
Companion concession Free entry for an essential carer with a paying visitor.
Access last checked 13 Sep 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Dunster Castle & Watermill
An ancient fortified castle on a wooded tor overlooking Exmoor and the Bristol Channel.
Dunster Castle crowns a steep wooded tor above the medieval village of Dunster, guarding the coast since Domesday times. Remodelled into a lavish Victorian country home by the Luttrell family, it features subtropical terraced gardens, working 18th-century watermill, and sweeping views across the Bristol Channel to South Wales.
Our tip Stroll down from the castle along the River Avill to the working watermill to buy freshly stone-ground organic flour.
Plan your visit
- Opening
- Garden, park and watermill open daily 10:00–17:00. Castle open daily 10:30–16:00 (seasonal winter hours).
- Admission
- Free for National Trust members. Standard adult admission £16.00.
- Booking
- No pre-booking required for standard admission.
Visitor information checked 13 Sep 2026. Opening and prices can change.
Memberships and passes
- National Trust — entry included: Free entry and parking for National Trust members. Official terms (checked 13 Sep 2026)
Visiting — good to know
Partial wheelchair access Accessible parking Accessible toilets Assistance dogs welcome Companion goes free — all visitors
The castle is on a steep tor with cobbled drives and stepped garden terraces. A shuttle buggy runs from the car park up to the castle entrance. Ground floor of castle and watermill have ramped access.
Companion concession Free admission for an essential carer with a paying visitor.
Access last checked 13 Sep 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Before you set off
Wells holds vibrant open-air markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Market Place. If ascending Glastonbury Tor, pack windproof layers and comfortable walking shoes. Open the Roam Pal trip planner to customize each day around your personal mobility needs.\n