Montrose Guest House
A brief glimpse of our Exmoor Coast & Countryside attractions
Minehead offers plenty for everyone, with a safe sandy beach, a quaint fishing harbour, and an attractive level promenade, ideal for the less agile. Behind the picturesque old town is North Hill, the beginning of Exmoor. On the Avenue and Parade, you will find an abundance of interesting shops, tearooms, restaurants and a beautiful pleasure garden with putting green. Within walking distance there is the West Somerset Steam Railway, Golf Course, Leisure Centre, Fishing and Boat Trips.
Nearby is the medieval village of Dunster, with its cobbled streets, historic Yarn Market and National Trust Castle. If you are a wheelchair user, don't put off a visit to the castle. By prior arrangement, the staff will ensure you see almost all of this interesting building. We have a current National Trust Handbook available for visitors to use.
Many way-marked paths and bridleways lead up into the heather clad slopes of North Hill, where you will be rewarded with glorious views across the Bristol Channel to Wales, or dramatic sunsets across Porlock Bay and Bossington. This stunning moor is the home of many Exmoor Ponies and herds of beautiful Red Deer. Feel free to borrow our O/S map to explore the area.
Minehead is at the start (or finish) of the South West Coastal path, which wends it way through some 630 miles of stunning scenery to Poole, Dorset. To mark the starting-point (or finishing point), a sculpture, designed by a local student, has been erected. For more details go to South West Coast Path Website. From a base in Minehead you will be able to make a start on the coastal path, which heads steeply up North Hill and on to Porlock and Lynmouth, Coleridge country.
The West Somerset Railway, which has its headquarters in Minehead, attracts in excess of 200,000 visitors a year from all over the country to see the longest preserved railway in the UK. For more details go to . West Somerset Railway Website.
Throughout the year the WSR runs special events including Fish and Chip Specials, a Day out with Thomas, Sunset Specials, Steam and Cream, and Murder Mystery Specials (Death on the Somerset Express?).
But if you want a more leisurely time, slip away down a quiet country lane and sit in a quaint Tea Garden and enjoy a local Cream Tea. Selworthy, Bossington (the Falconry Centre) and Horner spring to mind, though there are many more. For those who enjoy a good meal (and excellent local ales) in a country inn, your host will point you in the right direction.