Discovering Somerset (Volume 3)

Description

You can now explore West Somerset, one of England's prettiest areas, in this final part of a three-volume series on the county’s history. Presenter Henry Buckton, who wrote all three volumes, is rightly proud of his Somerset home, and in this instalment he takes you from the county town of Taunton to the beautiful coastline, samples some of the delights of Exmoor and visits many other towns, villages and places of interest. Taunton, historically a hotbed of insurrection, is covered in some depth and there is a special tribute to the town’s cricketing heritage, before strolling through the Quantock, Brendon and Blackdown Hills, as well as the wide expanse of Exmoor with its wild ponies roaming free. You will see a coastline of ancient cliffs and quaint harbours, such as at Kilve; visit prehistoric monuments including Tarr Steps and the Caractacus Stone; castle ruins, such as at Nether Stowey; learn about some of the industries of the area, and see how the region’s beauty inspired some of our greatest works of literature, such as Lorna Doone and Kubla Khan. Among the many highlights of this film are special features on Minehead, Watchet, Dunster, the Washford Radio Museum, Porlock, Dulverton, the Exmoor Pony Centre, Simonsbath and Wiveliscombe. Our West Somerset itinerary is enhanced by beautiful modern film, rare archive images and enlightening interviews with a wide variety of contributors. It is packed with some of the region’s most scenic views and also includes visits to the remnants of the West Somerset Mineral Railway, Allerford, Malmsmead and Wellington, before this stunning series reaches a fitting conclusion at the nearby monument, which celebrated victory at Waterloo in 1815.