Beginning of October and decided to take a road trip to Somerset in south west England. What follows is a compilation of the best locations and landscape photos during my road trip through Somerset.

Road Trip Plan

The plan was to just stay in a hotel during this road trip through Somerset. Now in October might have been hard to find open campsites and could be cold and wet. Renting through Airbnb is another option but find this a bit hit and miss although can cook your own food to your own schedule. I would be staying in Burnham on Sea for a few nights and then moving onto Minehead.

Weather Concerns

This road trip to Somerset nearly not happen due to the fuel crisis and panic that was currently ongoing in England. Also was concerned about the weather now in October. My last road trip to the West of England was almost a complete washout. On the contrary the recent one to the Shropshire hills was during a summer heatwave. Still, took a calculated risk and continued with the plan.

A303 Stonehenge

If you are driving to Somerset from the south east of England you will inevitably have to drive down the A303 with sights of Stonehenge when passing through Wiltshire.

To break up the long drive to Somerset, Stopping off at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to stretch your legs is a good option. I parked up in nearby Amesbury and took the long walk to Stonehenge. Very impressive, well worth stopping off at this mysterious location on your journey to the south west of England.

Cheddar Gorge Somerset

At the top of my list of locations to visit within Somerset was the magnificent Cheddar Gorge on the Mendip Hills.

From my hotel in Burnham on Sea took the local drive to Cheddar where I parked up and then walked around the Mendip Hills arriving last at the superb views from Cheddar Gorge in Somerset. Wanted to return for a sunset but never made it. But when I return I know some of the best locations. A first trip anywhere at best is only a scouting expedition.

Burnham on Sea

Spent the first two evenings on my road trip to Somerset in Burnham on Sea. The second evening due to being overcast took a walk along the beach at what should have been sunset.

Despite the cloud, it was an exhilarating beach walk and could have gone on for hours if not for darkness and the incoming tide. The coast at Burnham on Sea has some unique features like the low lighthouses on the beach and the smallest pier in Europe. Its a traditional Somerset English seaside town, a little lost in time, with some good pubs.

Glastonbury Tor

No road trip to Somerset would be complete without a visit to Glastonbury Tor. Not far from my hotel in Burnham on Sea took the drive to Glastonbury the next morning.

Had a good scout around Glastonbury Tor. Even returned the next morning having decided on the best location for a sunrise but overcast. Glastonbury has an interesting high street, lots of people living alternative lifestyles and lots of good pubs.

Sandpoint Sunset Somerset

For my last night in Burnham on Sea took a journey north of Weston Super Mare to a quiet location known as Sand Point on the coast for a sunset.

Sandpoint is a rocky peninsula officially part of the Mendip hills stretching to the Bristol Channel. Great views west and great sunsets.

West Mendips Way

Before driving on to Minehead in Somerset decided to take a walk along the west Mendips way not far from my hotel. I had noticed the hill tops from my hotel and looked like a good location to scout.

It was a cloudy day when I walked along the west Mendips way. No light basically, but a few good compositions presented themselves. Limestone rock in the foreground and distinctive hill brows in the background. You can take this walk from the Kings Wood to Webbington and back.

Bossington Hill Exmoor

Drove onto Minehead to get closer to both Exmoor and the Quantock Hills in Somerset. Arrived late the first evening in Minehead so was the next morning I took my first scout of a new location that being Bossington Hill on the edge of Exmoor.

Some fantastic views and hiking to be had on top of Bossington hill in Somerset. At one point had some great light and some ponies wandered into the frame.

So much so, had to return to Bossington Hill that same evening to capture a sunset over Porlock Bay to the west.

Quantock Hills Somerset

Another AONB within the county of Somerset is the Quantock Hills. A fertile valley separates Exmoor and the Quantock Hills but the landscape is very similar.

After a long walk through the coombes from Holford headed up onto the Quantock hills where was having some very good dramatic lighting conditions. A long exhausting walk to Bicknoller post before heading back down. Hundreds of compositions due to the lighting conditions.

Kilve Beach

The final afternoon was a warm and sunny one so headed down to Kilve Beach to check it out.

Very rocky, a little slippery when wet during low tide. Kilve beach is a very photogenic Jurassic coastline in Somerset. Would have liked to have spent more time here.

Somerset Conclusion

Somerset has a lot to offer the hiker and landscape photographer. Most tourists just pass through Somerset on there way to Devon and Cornwall. Cheddar Gorge is probably its jewel and well worth a visit if you have never been, the views are breath taking. Not surprising Cheddar has a lot of tourist infrastructure and feels like you are abroad on a tourist resort. Somerset has a great coastline some interesting seaside towns and some great ranges of hills like the Mendips, Quantocks and Exmoor.

I only scratched the surface of what Somerset has to offer. I think its better to just stay in one location if there for landscape photography to get to know the area better. I mean just concentrate on the Mendips rather than then switching to Exmoor then the Quantocks etc, it gets exhausting and less to research. Can always do other location on later road trips to the south west of England. Think next time too will rent a cottage or AirBnb.

Check out the Somerset Landscape Photography Gallery.