The Old Reading Rooms, Wiveliscombe

In Wiveliscombe

The Bear Inn -- A handsome 17th-century coaching inn at the heart of the town. The Bear serves freshly prepared food using locally sourced ingredients, with a seasonal menu alongside pub classics. You can eat in the cosy beamed bar, the dining room, or outside in the courtyard garden. Real ales from Exmoor Ales and other local breweries, local ciders, and a good wine list. Food served daily for lunch and dinner. Dogs welcome in the bar.

The White Hart -- A welcoming traditional pub on The Square, serving a straightforward menu of pub favourites using local produce. Real ales and local ciders. A friendly local with a warm atmosphere.

Exmoor Ales Brewery -- Wiveliscombe is home to the award-winning Exmoor Ales (formerly Golden Hill Brewery), one of Somerset's finest craft breweries. Their flagship Exmoor Gold and Exmoor Ale are widely regarded as among the best in the West Country. The brewery occasionally hosts tours and tastings -- check locally for availability.

Cafes and tea rooms -- The town has several cafes in and around The Square serving breakfast, light lunches, homemade cakes, and cream teas. A good choice for a morning coffee or afternoon treat while exploring the town.

Nearby

The Rock Inn, Waterrow -- Approximately 3 miles from Wiveliscombe. A well-regarded country pub beside the River Tone, serving excellent food using locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes seasonally and features West Country beef, lamb, and fresh fish. A lovely riverside setting with outdoor tables. Booking recommended.

The Luttrell Arms, Dunster -- A handsome medieval coaching inn in the picturesque village of Dunster, approximately 18 miles north. Good food in a historic setting beneath the castle.

Tarr Farm Inn -- A lovely 17th-century inn beside the famous Tarr Steps on the River Barle, approximately 15 miles north. Refined pub food using local produce -- Exmoor lamb, Devon beef, and game. Cream teas served throughout the day. Booking recommended.

Explore the town -- Wander through Wiveliscombe's attractive streets, browse the independent shops along The Square and Silver Street, and soak up the atmosphere of this authentic Somerset market town. The Church of St Andrew is well worth a visit for its fine 15th-century tower and peaceful churchyard.

Exmoor Ales Brewery -- Wiveliscombe is the home of Exmoor Ales, an award-winning craft brewery producing some of the finest real ales in the south-west. Their Exmoor Gold has won the CAMRA Gold Award. Check locally for brewery tours and tastings.

Wellington Monument -- A striking 175-foot obelisk on the Blackdown Hills, approximately 8 miles south of Wiveliscombe. Built to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's victory at Waterloo, the monument sits on a hilltop with panoramic views across Somerset, Devon, and Dorset. Managed by the National Trust with free access and good walking trails around the site.

Clatworthy Reservoir -- A peaceful reservoir set in the Brendon Hills, approximately 5 miles north-west of Wiveliscombe. Popular for walking, birdwatching, and fishing (permits available from South West Lakes Trust). The circular walk around the reservoir is approximately 3 miles and offers lovely views across the surrounding hills.

Dunster Castle -- A dramatic hilltop castle owned by the National Trust, approximately 18 miles north. Set within beautiful terraced gardens and parkland, with a medieval gatehouse, subtropical planting, and wonderful views over Exmoor to the Bristol Channel.

Exmoor National Park -- Wiveliscombe sits on the southern gateway to Exmoor. The open moorland, wooded valleys, and dramatic coastline of the National Park are all within easy reach. The Brendon Hills, immediately to the north, offer wonderful walking with far-reaching views and a fraction of the crowds found on the higher moor.

Hestercombe Gardens -- A stunning garden near Taunton, approximately 12 miles south-east. Three centuries of garden design in one estate -- a Georgian landscape garden, a Victorian terrace, and the celebrated Edwardian formal garden designed by Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. Open daily throughout the year.

Taunton -- The county town of Somerset, approximately 10 miles away. Visit the Museum of Somerset in Taunton Castle, catch a show at the Brewhouse Theatre, or enjoy the shops and restaurants. Taunton is also home to Somerset County Cricket Club for summer visitors.

Quantock Hills -- England's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lies approximately 12 miles to the east. The Quantocks offer superb walking and riding across open heathland and through ancient oak woods, with wild red deer and Exmoor ponies roaming freely.

Walks from Wiveliscombe

Wiveliscombe Circular -- A pleasant 4-mile walk from the town centre through rolling Somerset farmland and quiet country lanes, returning via footpaths with views across the surrounding hills. Allow around 2 hours. Graded easy.

Brendon Hills -- The Brendon Hills rise immediately to the north-west of Wiveliscombe and offer excellent walking through a landscape of open moorland, ancient woodland, and quiet farming valleys. There are numerous waymarked routes and footpaths. The hills were once an important iron ore mining area, and traces of the old West Somerset Mineral Railway can still be found.

Clatworthy Reservoir Circuit -- A peaceful 3-mile circular walk around the reservoir, approximately 5 miles from Wiveliscombe. Mostly level, with good views across the water and surrounding hills. Popular with birdwatchers -- look out for herons, cormorants, and buzzards. Allow around 1.5 hours.

Wellington Monument and the Blackdown Hills -- Approximately 8 miles south. Walk to the 175-foot obelisk and explore the surrounding Blackdown Hills AONB. Several circular routes of varying length pass through ancient woodland and open hilltop with panoramic views. Allow 2 to 3 hours for a moderate circuit.

River Tone Walk -- Follow the River Tone from Waterrow (approximately 3 miles from Wiveliscombe) along a beautiful stretch of river valley. The footpath passes through mixed woodland and meadows, with good chances of spotting dippers, kingfishers, and grey wagtails.

Haddon Hill and Wimbleball Lake -- Approximately 10 miles north-west. Haddon Hill is a fine viewpoint on the edge of Exmoor, and nearby Wimbleball Lake offers waymarked trails around the reservoir. The full circuit is approximately 6 miles.

Beaches

Minehead -- The nearest beach, approximately 18 miles north (around 30 minutes by car). A wide expanse of sand at low tide, ideal for families. Also the starting point of the 630-mile South West Coast Path.

Dunster Beach -- A quieter sand and shingle beach near the historic village of Dunster, approximately 17 miles north of Wiveliscombe.

Blue Anchor Bay -- A long pebble and sand beach between Dunster and Watchet, approximately 16 miles north. Quieter than Minehead and popular with fossil hunters.

North Devon beaches -- The golden sand beaches at Woolacombe, Croyde, and Saunton Sands are within reach for a day trip, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by car.