We will be staying in Taunton, near Exmoor, in Somerset and close to Devon for three nights. Traveling mid-week in July with my husband and 16 year old daughter. Would appreciate any suggestions for daytime activities. Some info: <BR> <BR>*Been to Bath, Cotswalds, Salisbery on previous trip, enjoyed it but don't want to return <BR>*We like to walk (3-5 miles at a stretch), spend time in towns looking at churches, small museums, shops <BR>*Will have a car <BR>*Have seen Stonehenge, Glastonbury and Wells on previous visit, and will stop again on our trip out from or return to London. <BR>*Have the home web site for Foot and Mouth Disease, and can check on lastest restrictions if you give suggestions for walks <BR>*Hoping for your ideas on best areas for walking and towns to visit to see a variety - coastline, moors, interesting landscape <BR> <BR>Your advice is greatly appreciated. <BR> <BR>Susan

Hello Susan, <BR> <BR>The North Devon coast is some of the loveliest coastal scenery in England, particularly the area around Lynmouth. En route from Taunton two places not to miss are DUNSTER and SELWORTHY (chocolate box village of thatched cottages) in West Somerset/Exmoor. From Lynmouth there are fine walks to WATERSMEET and to VALLEY OF ROCKS. <BR> <BR>In South Devon, DARTMOUTH is a town not to miss. Leave the car at Totnes and take the boat down the River Dart. Your can return by steam-train and bus via Paignton. This is a lovely day-trip! <BR> <BR>I can make other suggestions if you need more ... <BR> <BR>Steve <BR>

You'll love Exmoor. It is gorgeous. Many of the places you indicated you didn't want to return to aren't really feasible as day yrips from Taunton anyway. But I would concentrate touring west and south. The places not to miss: <BR> <BR>Dartmoor for sure, especially around Widecomb-in-the-Moor and Haytor Rocks. There should not be any restrictions by then -- unless there is a new outbreak. <BR> <BR>The South Devon coast from Torbay to Kingsbridge. Great scenery and lots of WWII connections - this is one of the main areas they trained for the D-Day invasion. <BR> <BR>The north coast from Dunster to Clovelly. Really pretty village, beaches and cliffs - but can be very busy on weekends so go on a weekday. <BR> <BR>If you want to go southeast a nice trip would go thru Lyme Regis, Bridport, Dorchester and Weymounth and maybe Corfe Castle - but there is soo much to see in Devon and Exmoor that you probably won't have time to go this far. <BR> <BR>I HIGHLY recommend you pick up the Michelin Green guide to the West Country - it tells you about everything to see from Cornwall to Dorset - a really valuable tool. <BR>

Thank you Steve and Janis. Very helpful in narrowing our choices. Everything sounds wonderful in the guidebooks, so some "insider" information is appreciated to help focus our energies. Janis, thanks for the Green Guide suggestion. I purchased it a few weeks ago, and it is very useful. <BR> <BR>Regards, Susan

Another vote for the west Dorset coast; walk along the cobb in Lyme Regis & visit the nearby quaint villages of Charmouth & Chideok. Also, just south of Exeter is Powderham castle which is worth a 1/2 day visit. <BR>