EVENTS ALONG THE LINE OF THE WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY 2014 The following is a list of events taking place along the route of the line during 2014, apart from our own WSR ones, that we know about. It will not be comprehensive as it is put together from local listings websites that we find but they are things that can be reached via WSR train services. To learn more it’s as well to fire up your search engine and see more details especially where bookings at venues are required. April 6th to 14th: There is a South West Coast Path Walking Week based at the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster. Why not travel to and from the event by WSR train to Dunster Station. April 19, 20th & 21st: Sees an Easter Trail at Dunster Castle. On Saturday 19th the Dunster Castle Express will be running and on any day that the Castle is open WSR ticket holders can obtain discounted admission to the Castle by showing their tickets at the entrance gate. April 29th to May 5th: The Hobby Horse Festival takes place in Minehead based around the traditional dancing and perambulations of the “Sailor’s ‘Oss”. May 3rd to 5th: The Exmoor Walking Festival moves to Dunster for the three days and the medieval village has a large number and range of places to stay. May 17th & 18th: National Gardens Open Scheme at Wall House, Tower Hill, Williton (14.00 to 18.00) About 30 minutes walk from the station buit with plenty of time to look around Williton and have some lunch en route. May 25th: Watchet Wheelbarrow Race Day. Billed as Watchet’s Answer to Formula 1 this is a day of fun events involving fancy dress, team of two racing wheelbarrows around the streets of the ancient harbour town and of course the local hostelries. Watchet Station stands right in the middle of the town, handy for the fun and games. May 30th to June 1st: Summer Singing Weekend at the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster June 15th to 22nd: The Great Western Archery Festival returns to the Showground at Dunster, approximately 10 to 15 minutes walk from Dunster Station. June 22nd: National Gardens Open Scheme at Lydeard House, West Street, Bishops Lydeard.(14.00 to 17.30). Approximately half a mile from the station. June 22nd: National Gardens Open Scheme with 6 gardens open in Station Road Stogumber offering a variety of approaches to gardening and no doubt giving plenty of ideas for keen gardeners to discover. If the weather is kind why not enjoy some refreshments in the gardens at the station? July 12th: Following a successful first year in 2013 Minehead is organising another Harbour Festival. The Harbour is about 10 minutes walk along the seafront from Minehead station and includes music, children’s activities, boat trips and visiting ships. July 13th to 18th: Artists Paradise workshop based at the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster with supporting programme of activities for partners who are non-artists/ July 18th to 21st: There is another themed weekend at the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster, this time based around the John Shillito Jazz Group. Seems like a nice combination with a steam train trip there and back. July 27th: Watchet Carnival. An afternoon of summer fun and one of the bigger and longest established special days to appear in the West Somerset calendar. The roads into the town are usually closed or restricted for access from late morning onwards so WSR trains are definitely the best way to get to and from it. August 22nd to 24th: Watchet’s Great Music Festival. Three days of live music featuring a mixture of local and nationally known bands plus all the rest of the things that go with an event which is growing in popularity each year. It’s a short bus ride from Watchet railway station to the Festival and camp sites. August 24th: There is a Party in the Park in Blenheim Gardens in Minehead featuring live music, children’s entertainments and other attractions. It is about 10 minutes walk from the station to Blenheim Gardens. September 4th to 7th: Stogumber Music Festival will see classical music, folk, jazz, recitals, dance, buskers, and childrens art and music workshops... and more. Many of the concerts take place in the evening (so why not stay locally and arrive via the WSR) but there are usually some lunchtime concerts.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 19:20:01 +0000