Wells Cathedral

Churches & Abbeys in West Country, United Kingdom

My wife and I love visiting Wells. We live about 30 minutes' drive away and go there often to walk around the cathedral environs, which include the Bishop's Palace and moat. The cathedral itself is magnificent and affords many a photo opportunity ~ both inside and out. The unique, cobbled Vicar's Close is also well worth a visit and the architecture all around that area is wonderfully photogenic.

The town is blessed with a number of good eateries ~ from great little tea shops to full-blown restaurants, and the cathedral itself has an excellent cafe in part of the cloisters. The walk across the parkland from one corner of the moat is also very pleasant and gives another fine view of the cathedral on the way back.

If you're staying anywhere near to Wells on a holiday or weekend break I recommend a visit. We never have any trouble parking and have never come home disappointed!

West Bay and the Jurassic Coast

Coastlines in West Country, United Kingdom

West Bay is "Dorset's Golden Gateway to the Jurassic Coast" – a great little harbour town and a wonderful base-camp for walkers, fossil hunters, fishermen (and fisherwomen!), paragliders, golfers,and photographers, et al!

• The South-West coastal path can be pursued in either direction - westwards towards Lyme Regis and Sidmouth, or eastwards towards Abbotsbury and Weymouth. Excellent walking, if a little steep in places!

• The 'Jurassic Pier' offers splendid coastal views and, along with the beach on either side, a great opportunity to land a few mackerel, or even something much bigger!

• The imposing cliffs make great launch-pads for people who like to throw themselves into the air under a colourful piece of silk or nylon! And…

• The picturesque harbour, pier and promenade, not to mention the sheer sandstone cliffs, provide many a subject for those armed with digital SLRs, or even camera-phones!

And if you're needing a spot of lunch or supper, there are plenty of harbourside kiosks serving freshly cooked fish and chips; the Riverside Restaurant, with its scenic views and excellent seafood; and at least a couple of friendly pubs!

Just a few miles to the east lies the popular Hive Beach, at Burton Bradstock, with its excellent 'cafe-on-the-beach' and a National Trust car park. Why not walk over the cliffs from West Bay, enjoy a bowl of their speciality seafood soup, and then wander back again?

West Bay – it's well worth a visit!

For more information on the area and its amenities go to : www.westbay.co.uk/index.html

Weymouth

Towns in Weymouth, United Kingdom

I was born and grew up in Weymouth and it was a great place to live for a young lad who was into fishing and playing football! The 'Stone Pier' provided a safe place to fish and the superb sandy beach (at low tide!) was a great place to kick a ball around.

The town has many attractions - including the Sea Life Centre, Brewer's Quay, an R.S.P.B. reserve, and various parks and gardens to name but a few - and I can do no better than point you in the direction of the town's excellent website, at: www.weymouth.gov.uk for further details.

I hope my photo's give you a flavour of this brilliant holiday destination, and if you'd like to see more you can go to my Photobase page at: www.pbase.com/moorlands/weymou...

Martock

Villages in West Country, United Kingdom

Martock is an attractive and friendly village, or small town, depending on who you talk to! It's main attractions include…

• The parish church of All Saints, reputed to be the second largest in the county, with some 'lancet windows' that date back to the 13th century and a wonderful wooden ceiling above the nave...

• The Treasurer's House, a medieval house in the care of the National Trust, part of which is open to the public, though only on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday afternoons. (See here for details : www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visi... )

• And a number of very good eating houses, such as the excellent White Hart.

The older buildings are constructed of the local hamstone, quarried from the nearby Ham Hill, which looks particularly attractive in the last hour or two of sunlight on a warm spring or summer day. The old cedar tree, standing in a field at the bottom end of Pound Lane, is also well worth a photograph, particularly if there is a good sunset behind it.

For more Martock images, go to: www.pbase.com/moorlands/martoc...

The village has a library and a variety of shops, including a newsagent; two mini-supermarkets; various take-away food outlets - English, Chinese, Indian and Turkish!; a friendly coffee-shop, with some of the best coffee in Martock; and a superb bakery, the 'Bakery Roy-al'.

It also has a small but well-stocked art gallery, with excellent framing service (www.martockgallery.co.uk), as well as being home to the nationally known Yandles Hobby and Tool Centre ~ another place where you can get a decent cup of coffee and a great bowl of home-made soup. (See here for details: www.yandleshobbycentre.com)

Nearby, the East Lambrook Gardens are well worth a visit, as is their excellent tea-shop! The National Trust's superb Montacute House and Gardens is also just a few miles away ~ another great place for photo's! See here for details : www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visi...