Founded in 1146, Forde Abbey was one of the most significant Cistercian monasteries in England during the four centuries that separated the reign of King Stephen from the Reformation. The buildings seen today were all in existence in the Middle Ages. They formed the Abbot’s and monks’ quarters, their kitchen, refectories, and their chapter house. The abbey church has gone, together with the guest wing and three sides of the cloisters. While the final years of so many English monasteries are remembered for their feebleness and decadence, Forde ended in a blaze of glory. Thomas Chard, the last of the thirty-two abbots, devoted much of his time and energy to repairing and reconstructing the fabric of the Abbey building. The Lordleaze Hotel is just a few miles from Forde Abbey so makes a great place to stay nearby!

Spread across 45 acres of gardens and woodland in the heart of Devon, Wildwood is home to a fascinating array of British wildlife. From brown bears and wolves to arctic foxes and red squirrels, their park offers a unique opportunity to explore and discover. Wildwood is the ideal destination for a family adventure. The park features outdoor and indoor play areas where children can enjoy endless fun, while parents relax amidst nature’s splendour.

Beer Quarry Caves is a man-made limestone underground complex located about a mile west of the village of Beer, and the main source in England for beer stone. The underground tunnels resulted from 2,000 years of quarrying beer stone, which was particularly favoured for cathedral and church features such as door and window surrounds because of its colour and workability for carving.

Hestercombe Gardens are a unique combination of three centuries of garden design:Coplestone Warre Bampfylde’s Georgian landscape garden, the Victorian terrace and shrubbery and the stunning Edwardian garden design by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. All of their gardens have undergone acclaimed restoration works and today provide important examples of gardens in contrasting styles that continue to grow and develop.

Perry’s Cider Mill have been making award winning craft ciders since 1920 when William Churchill acquired the family farm and started making cider as a side line to his blacksmiths business. The company was later taken over by Henry and Bert Perry his nephews who pushed the company forward and continued to experiment with craft ciders.

Barleymow’s offers a comprehensive, well stocked shop with a wide choice of fresh meats from our own farm, home produced and locally sourced products along with our fully licensed restaurant. The menu offers traditional home cooked meals made in our kitchens from all day breakfasts, hot and cold lunches, snacks and cakes.

The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, South West England, running south from the Mendips to the Blackdown Hills.The Somerset Levels have an area of about 160,000 acres and are bisected by the Polden Hills;the areas to the south are drained by the River Parrett, and the areas to the North by the rivers Axe and Brue. The Mendip Hills separate the Somerset Levels from the North Somerset Levels. The Somerset Levels consist of marine clay “levels” along the coast and inland peat-based “moors” agriculturally, about 70 per cent is used as grassland and the rest is arable

The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. It stretches from Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset, a distance of 96 miles. Chartered in 2001, the Jurassic coast was the second wholly natural World Heritage Site to be designated in the United Kingdom. Its entire length can be walked on the South West Coast Path. The Lordleaze Hotel is based just inland from The Jurassic Coast so it makes us the perfect base to explore the area from.

Montacute is a masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design. With its towering walls of glass, glow of ham stone, and its surrounding gardens it is a place of beauty and wonder.Sir Edward Phelips, was the visionary force and money behind the creation of this masterpiece, which was completed in 1601. Built by skilled craftsman using local ham stone under the instruction of William Arnold, master mason, the house was a statement of wealth, ambition and showmanship.

Barrington Court is a Tudor manor house begun around 1538 and completed in the late 1550s, with a vernacular stable court (1675), situated in Barrington, near Ilminster, Somerset.The house was owned by several families by 1745 after which it fell into disrepair and was used as a tenant farm. After repair by architect Alfred Hoare Powell, it was the first house acquired by the National Trust, in 1907. In the 1920s the house was renovated, the stable block turned into a residence and several outbuildings, gardens and gateways constructed.

Britain’s biggest gorge from the dramatic cliffs rising 450ft to the stunning stalactite caverns. This world-famous site is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, reveals many fascinating stories of our prehistoric ancestors, and is an international centre for caving and rock climbing. A great day out for families, nature and history lovers, and outdoor adventurers.

Wookey Hole Caves are a series of limestone caverns, Wookey Hole is a cave and tourist attraction in the village of Wookey Hole on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills near Wells in Somerset, England. The River Axe flows through the cave. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for both biological and geological reasons.

Horse racing courses located in Taunton, Wincanton & Exeter are very local and all a very fun day out.

The club runs three league teams on Saturdays, catering for all abilities. The first and second teams play in the West Of England Premier League, the third team play in The Shrubbery Hotel Somerset League. A Saturday 4th XI play some friendlies. The Sunday A team plays both league and friendly fixtures. They also have one team playing in the Chard &Ilminster Evening League on Wednesday. They still entertain some touring sides who provide us with some enjoyable friendly games either afternoon or evenings throughout the summer.

The Haynes International Motor Museum is dedicated to restore, retain and preserve motoring and motorcycling items of historical and cultural interest in England. It is an International Motor Museum taking the view that the complete history of the automobile and motorcycle can only be covered by looking at the developments from all over the world.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum is devoted to the history of British naval aviation. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, aero engines, models of aircraft and Royal Navy ships (especially aircraft carriers), and paintings and drawings related to naval aviation. It is located on RNAS Yeovilton airfield, and the museum has viewing areas where visitors can watch military aircraft (especially helicopters) take off and land. It is located 7 miles (11 km) north of Yeovil, and 40 miles (64 km) south of Bristol.

With the stunning golden glow of the majestic sandstone cliffs and the shimmering radiance of Golden Cap, West Bay, Dorset is the Golden Gateway to the Jurassic Coast. West Bay nestles south of Bridport, between Eype with Seatown to the west and Freshwater with Burton Bradstock to the east. Situated at the western end of Chesil Beach / Chesil Bank, the area forms part of the Dorset Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site within Lyme Bay. If you’re looking for a suitable hotel near West Bay, The Lordleaze makes a perfect place to stay away from the hustle and bustle.

Lyme Regis is a coastal town in West Dorset, England, situated 25 miles west of Dorchester. The town lies in Lyme Bay, on the English Channel coast at the Dorset Devon border. It is nicknamed “The Pearl of Dorset.” The town is noted for the fossils found in the cliffs and beaches, which are part of the Heritage Coast, known commercially as the Jurassic Coast a World Heritage Site. If you’re looking for a suitable hotel near Lyme Regis, The Lordleaze makes a perfect place to stay away from the hustle and bustle.