West Somerset Steam Railway

West Somerset Railway is the longest independent railway in England. It stretches 20 miles from a village outside Taunton called Bishops Lydeard to Minehead a seaside town. Along the route the train stops at 8 stations and passes through magnificent countryside with views of the Quantock Hills, Exmoor coastline and even across to South Wales on a clear day. On route the train stops at eight stations - each one unique. Most of the trains are steam although there are a couple of heritage diesel trains. What makes the railway special is that it is largely run by volunteers and has a huge network of supporters. The volunteers care for each station and have ...  Read the complete review

Minehead can look a bit dismal when it's cloudy. A pretty, Victorian town, it is well catered for with entertainment courtesy of a massive Butlins Complex, but the beach didn't look at all appealing after our short journey there from the village in Exmoor where we were staying. The clouds that had been promised to melt away were sticking stubbornly over us and threatening to dump their entire contents any second now. Not wishing to spend a small fortune being fleeced by the local penny (hah!) arcades, although our two kids were keen, we distracted them by pointing out the large steam engine that was puffing contentedly in the nearby station. Perfect. If ...  Read the complete review

The West Somerset Steam Railway - 20 miles of history still in perfect working order, taking you from Bishops Lydeard near Taunton out to Minehead on the coast. The stations, posters, pictures, equipment, still in mint condition, remind you of days gone by, when steam ruled and a train journey was a pleasant affair. The line is one of the country's most visited and succesful, attracting so many passengers that in high season the service is supplemented with Diesel engines. Heresy I know, but restoring steam engines takes time! A rather pricey ticket (£9.30 rtn or £10 all day rover), will take you on the 70 minute journey along the line, ...  Read the complete review