Top Things to do in Somerset
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What to do and see in Somerset, England: The Best Lookouts
Discover the best top things to do in Somerset, United Kingdom including Anchor Head, Clevedon Pier and Heritage Centre, Sugar Lookout, Sand Point, Worlebury Hillfort.
Restaurants in Somerset
1. Anchor Head
2. Clevedon Pier and Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 839 reviews
Reviewed By KeithF718 - Weston super Mare, United Kingdom
We had been to Clevedon Pier about 5 years ago. Since then they have managed to get a lovely cafe/restaurant/toilets built into the beginning of the pier without spoiling the view of the pier.There is even a "port hole" window that looks under the pier. They also provide for wedding functions. It costs £3/£3.30 for entrance onto the pier and there is a small shop. When you climb the spiral staircase up to the 1st floor there is such a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips and in such a fun way that it transforms you into the history of the pier, the struggles and the joys, those early days of steamships and a timeline to pictorially show you what else was happening in the world at different times. The walk down the pier boards of this unique Grade 1 Listed pier has a pleasant calming atmosphere about it (on a calm day). The sun was shining, people were reading the name plaques all along the pier and the names on those plaques underfoot as well. As you near the end of the pier you are transformed into the 1800's and can imagine the hustle and bustle of passengers alighting from steamships to Wales and surrounding ports. Gentlemen wearing suits and ladies in their finery, some with maids in waiting. Back to today, workmen replacing the putty securing the ornate glass in the pagoda shelters to the sides, people sitting aloof on the cafe balcony taking coffee and ice cream. A couple studying the shape of the ship on the misty horizon trying to align it with the etchings of different types of ship on a sacque depicting about a dozen or so different vessels. An elderly mother and daughter relaxing on one of the bench seats leaning back and just breathing in the sea air and the peaceful quality of restful time. Quiet. Of course its not always this quiet but it was at this particular moment. Upstairs to the cafe we secured a corner table on the balcony overlooking the distant welsh shores lost in the mist of time. Unfortunately there were no fresh cakes or pastries, just pre-packed cakes, biscuits, chocolates and of course ice creams. The coffee was rich in flavour, the Bakewell tart melting as it touched the tongue. Time continued as we sat and relaxed in the warmth of the sun. A good sized cup of coffee, the large bakewell tart coming gnat £2.30 but worth it, the sweetness mixing with the taste of coffee. We descended the very strong iron staircase down to Pier level and took a leisurely stroll along the planks to the shop and exit.We spent 3 hours on the pier and heritage centre. All the staff were so nice and helpful. This is a heritage site that you just cannot rush. You must savour the richness and wealth of effort, blood sweat and tears that have gone into the restoration of this wonderful Pier. If you are in the area this is a wonderful place to visit. Over the past 10 years or so I have visited and photographed this amazing Pier.
3. Sugar Lookout
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Ewyena - London, United Kingdom
The lookout is a viewpoint in Clevedon seaside, just in the very beginning of Poet's walk. If someone has a few step above the Marine lake, can find this small building with 3 opened window space to 3 different points of view. Very nice place to have a lookout before or after our path on Poet's walk. In clear weather we can see the land of Wales through the channel. The Sugar Lookout is a feature on Poets’ Walk. Originally was built by Ferdinand Beeston in early 1800' and have been used by a family of sugar importers to look out for ships sailing up the Bristol Channel, which were carrying sugar from the West Indies. It later fell into ruin but has recently been restored.
4. Sand Point
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By JuneBug1939 - Weston super Mare, United Kingdom
Middle Hope, leading onto Sand Point and Swallow Ridge, is a sequence of carboniferous limestone with unusual geological features including a Pleistocene-aged fossil cliff and has been designated as a SSSI. The underlying geology and soil types support scarce plants such as the smallflower buttercup, honeywort, Cheddar pink and Somerset hair grass. There is a stone Trig Point used by the archaeologists/scientists on Middle Hope just before you get to Swallow Ridge. Human use of the sites is shown by a bowl barrow and disc barrow from late Neolithic or Bronze Age and the site of a likely motte-and-bailey castle. Woodspring Priory, a former Augustinian priory which was founded in the early 13th century, sits just inland of the rocky promontory. The Priory and surrounding land is owned by the National Trust. We enjoyed our walk yesterday, up the steps from Sand Bay Carpark, up the craggy, muddy pathway onto Middle Hope, then along the coastline almost to Woodspring Priory and back. Such a wonderful day we had. Highly recommended!
5. Worlebury Hillfort
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 2 reviews
This large Hillfort above Weston-super-Mare is an ancient monument of international significance. It was built around 2,300 years ago in the Iron Age by members of the Celtic Dobunni tribe. The Hillfort is protected by seven valla (defensive walls and ditches) and has more than 90 storage pits where important archaeological discoveries have been made. Magnificent views can be seen from the Fort.
