Thornfalcon’s Guide to Somerset with Kids

Along with the delights of Somerset, Devon, Exeter and Bristol are also close by, and this guide covers a number of brilliant days out within an hour of Taunton and Thornfalcon.

Watersports

Watersports from paddleboarding to kayaking are available for the whole family in a couple of places – both at the Somerset Boat Club, and on the River Tone at Channel Adventure.

For family-wide fun, Flip Out Somerset is a state of the art trampoline adventure park, situated 1 mile from junction 26 on the M5 motorway, by Wellington, south of Taunton.

The Quantocks have numerous mountain bike trails for all abilities, across miles of wilderness with views across coastline, health, woodland and wild ponies.

Just outside Taunton, children can discover the magic of sheep, lambing and mini farmer experiences at Somerset Sheep Trekking.

For families and teenagers looking for something more different, Shepton Mallet Prison housed its first inmates in 1625 and was decommissioned in 2013. Now a captivating visitor experience, tours shine a light on what life was really like for prisoners, officers and visitors, bringing this historic and captivating building to life, and Shepton also run an immersive, state-of-the-art escape room called The Cell, where you get to do the time without committing the crime! Particularly good at Halloween.

Take the family on a vintage trail with West Somerset Railway, running regular services on historic steam trains across the Quantocks, and up to Minehead.

Just over the border into Devon, if you and your family fancy a day of muddy fun, The Bear Trail is an award-winning family assault course, suitable for all ages – 30 obstacles, and unlimited mud.

And outside Exeter, Go Ape takes you all up into the trees for a forest-top challenge along walk ways, platforms, zip lines, rope ladders and nets.

Bristol has a number of excellent museums and activity centres, including We The Curious, an interactive intergalactic science centre which is great fun.