Holiday rentals in Minehead

Perched between the blue waters of the Bristol Channel and the rolling green hills of Exmoor National Park, Minehead is one of Somerset’s most popular beach holiday towns. The Romantic poets Wordsworth and Coleridge found inspiration walking in these hills in the 19th century, and they are no less beautiful today, with old stone farmhouses and church towers nestled between the grassy hills.

Enjoy sailing or windsurfing along the beach or strolling the cobbled streets lined with elegant Victorian and Edwardian architecture. The town boasts rich gardens, a picturesque harbour that has been in use since the 14th century, and independent shops and cafes.

Beyond the town itself, Minehead is the starting point for England’s most extensive long-distance trail, the South West Coast Path, and for the heritage West Somerset Railway.

Somerset’s location on the southwest coast means you can expect mild, pleasant summers. The weather is driest between May and September, so this may be the perfect time for you to book your holiday cottage in Minehead if you’d like to avoid the rain as much as possible. The coastal town doesn’t get very cold in winter, although it is rainier — and much quieter in terms of visitors — between November and February.

Time your visit for the town’s famous Hobby Horse festival at the beginning of May. Said to have been going since 1465, the festival features large wooden-framed horse puppets, affectionately called Obby Osses, dancing through the streets, and saluting the sunrise on May Day morning. Minehead also hosts a music festival every summer that has been attracting top classical musicians since 1963.

Blenheim Gardens

These peaceful gardens are a green oasis in the centre of Minehead with their wide lawns, mature trees, and picturesque flower beds. Somerset’s mild coastal climate allows many types of plants to thrive here; this is a perfect place for a stroll and a picnic, or you can stop in at the cafe. The traditional bandstand hosts musicians on summer weekends, and there’s also an 18-hole golf course.

West Somerset Railway

Historic steam locomotives and carriages ply this 30-kilometre scenic railway line from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard through the idyllic Somerset countryside. Once a branch line on the Great Western Railway, the track has been restored to splendour to match the charm of the Quantock hills and coastal outlooks. The railway is wheelchair accessible, and dogs are welcome to ride.

Dunster

Less than 10 minutes from Minehead is the village of Dunster. The magnificent Dunster Castle sits at the top of the forested hill, a 12th-century structure reformed into a Jacobean-era house and then refurbished in the Victorian period. Dunster also has a 16th-century tithe barn and the 17th-century Yarn Market, reflecting the village’s history as a centre for wool production, and there are Iron Age hillforts nearby.