Top Hidden Gems Day Trips from Taunton
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Hidden Gems Day Trips from Taunton include Wellington Monument, Culmstock Beacon, Burton Pynsent Monument, Wimbleball Dam, Ashton Windmill, Holyford Woods, Fluxton Weir and Cannington Viaduct.
Taunton makes a fine base for exploring the varied country of the Somerset and Devon borders, with hills, moors, levels and coast all within reach. Close at hand to the south, the Blackdown Hills rise with two intriguing landmarks: the towering Wellington Monument and the little beehive hut of Culmstock Beacon.
Out to the east, above the flat expanse of the Somerset Levels, the Burton Pynsent Monument spikes up from the fields near Curry Rivel. Further afield, the drive rewards you handsomely.
West towards Exmoor lies Wimbleball Lake and its great dam, while northeast, in the country near Cheddar, Ashton Windmill still holds its working machinery. Head south into east Devon and you will find the bluebell valley of Holyford Woods, the river pool at Fluxton Weir and the strange, lopsided concrete arches of Cannington Viaduct near Lyme Regis.
It is a day-trip landscape of monuments, mills, woods and water. Here are eight hidden gems for a day trip from Taunton.
Wellington Monument
Photo: Noel Jenkins via Geograph.org.uk
Wellington Monument Reckoned to be the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world, this stone column rises from the ridge of the Blackdown Hills a couple of miles south of Wellington in Somerset. Its three faces are said to echo the shape of a bayonet, a nod to the Duke of Wellington and his victory at Waterloo, whom it commemorates.
Work began in 1817 but dragged on until 1854. The National Trust owns it, and after years shut on safety grounds it reopened in 2021 following major repairs, the staircase inside now opened for occasional tours.
The ridge-top rewards the climb with long, sweeping views.
Culmstock Beacon
Photo: David Smith via Geograph.org.uk
Culmstock Beacon A little further into the Blackdown Hills, above Culmstock over the Devon border, sits this small stone hut on a breezy hilltop. Round and beehive-shaped and built of local stone, it has a low doorway and a circular opening in its domed roof, where a warning fire once burned.
It formed part of the old chain of beacons lit to pass news of danger across the country, including the threat of the Spanish Armada. From the hill the view runs south over the Culm valley, making the short climb a rewarding one on a clear day out from Taunton.
Burton Pynsent Monument
Photo: Roger Cornfoot via Geograph.org.uk
Burton Pynsent Monument Out east above the Somerset Levels near Curry Rivel, this tall stone column stands alone in the fields. Rising some hundred and forty feet, a slender Doric column on a square base topped by a domed cupola and a stone urn, it is a landmark for miles across the flat, watery country below, with a spiral stair climbing inside.
It was raised in the seventeen-sixties by William Pitt the Elder in memory of Sir William Pynsent, a squire who so admired Pitt that he left him his entire estate. The column has been attributed to Capability Brown, and although it stands on private farmland it can be seen from the lanes and paths around.
Wimbleball Dam
Photo: Adrian Boliston via Geograph.org.uk
Wimbleball Dam A drive of around forty minutes west, into the hills of eastern Exmoor, leads to this reservoir formed by damming the River Haddeo. The concrete dam stands about fifty metres high and three hundred metres long, with a walk across its crest, and the lake behind covers some 370 acres.
South West Water owns it while the South West Lakes Trust runs the recreation: sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, fly-fishing for trout, walking, cycling and camping. There is an activity centre with a cafe and car park, and the dark skies overhead make it a recognised spot for stargazing once night falls.
Ashton Windmill
Photo: Neil Owen via Geograph.org.uk
Ashton Windmill Around forty-five minutes northeast, in the flat country between Cheddar and the Somerset Levels, this squat, round stone tower is topped by a white timber cap and four sails. It is the last windmill in Somerset to keep a full set of working machinery, so behind the thick walls the gears, shafts and millstones remain in place.
The cap turns to bring the sails into the wind, helped by a small fantail at the back. Built in the eighteenth century, it ground corn until 1927, when cheaper mills put it out of work.
From its low rise the views stretch out over the Levels.
Holyford Woods
Photo: Shazz via Geograph.org.uk
Holyford Woods Down towards the east Devon coast, in a small valley between Colyton and Seaton, this ancient woodland nature reserve makes a peaceful drive of about three-quarters of an hour. Oak, ash and hazel fill the valley, with a sunken stream running through and spring displays of bluebells, wild garlic and daffodils.
Natural paths wind among the trees, steep and muddy in places, and the wood shelters owls, dormice and rare bats. The district council and a local conservation society manage it between them, and it is free and open all year, so you can wander at your own pace.
Fluxton Weir
Photo: David Smith via Geograph.org.uk
Fluxton Weir Also in east Devon, on the River Otter just downstream of Ottery St Mary, this informal wild-swimming spot sits by the hamlet of Fluxton. A calmer, deeper stretch of river gathers above the weir, with churning water below and a rope swing over the pool.
A riverside field gives access and is popular for picnics through the summer. It is an unmanaged spot with no facilities, so take your litter home and judge the water carefully before you get in.
The drive down from Taunton takes around three-quarters of an hour, making it a fine warm-weather day out.
Cannington Viaduct
Photo: Roger Cornfoot via Geograph.org.uk
Cannington Viaduct Near Uplyme, close to Lyme Regis on the Devon and Dorset border, this tall old railway viaduct strides across a green valley. Built at the very start of the twentieth century, it was among the earliest large structures made of mass concrete, its ten great arches once carrying the little branch line to Lyme Regis some ninety feet above the valley floor.
One arch has a smaller brick arch built inside it, added when a pier began sinking into the soft ground during construction, giving the whole thing a faintly lopsided look it keeps to this day. The line closed long ago, and the viaduct still stands, a grey concrete giant among the fields.
FAQs
How far are these day trips from Taunton?
The nearest, in the Blackdown Hills and above the Somerset Levels, lie around eleven to fifteen kilometres from Taunton. The rest sit further out, from Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor to the east Devon woods and coast, mostly a drive of forty minutes to an hour, but all doable in a day.
Where can you swim near Taunton?
Fluxton Weir on the River Otter, downstream of Ottery St Mary in Devon, is a well-liked wild-swimming spot with a deeper pool above the weir and a rope swing. Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor also offers paddleboarding and kayaking, though it is managed for watersports rather than casual swimming.
Which of these suit a family day out?
Wimbleball Lake near Taunton is ideal, with an activity centre, cafe and plenty of space for watersports and walks. Ashton Windmill and the Wellington Monument also make gentle, interesting stops, while Holyford Woods is lovely for a family bluebell walk in spring.
Conclusion
From monuments on the Blackdown ridge to a working windmill, a bluebell wood and a lopsided concrete viaduct, the country around Taunton spreads out in every direction. Close by you can climb to the Wellington Monument or the little Culmstock Beacon, or gaze up at Burton Pynsent's column above the Levels.
Venture further and Exmoor, the Cheddar country and the east Devon coast all open up, each an easy drive for a day out. Some spots are free and open at any hour, while places like Wimbleball Lake come with cafes and car parks, so there is something to suit every kind of outing.
Pack sturdy shoes for the hills and woods, and keep an eye on the tide and the weather. Varied and full of character, these are the hidden gems for a day trip from Taunton.
