Somerset is a traditional county of England. Advocates of traditional counties state that it is unchanged since the creation of the City of Bristol in 1373. The ceremonial county covers much the same area as the traditional county, but excludes various outliers. The administrative county, that is, the area governed by Somerset County Council, excludes the district of Bath and North East Somerset, and the southern half of Bristol (whose boundaries has greatly expanded since 1373).
The name is pronounced as though spelt Summerset but some local people pronounce it Zummerzet with a distinct rolled R, showing two characteristics of the strong local accent.
Somerset adjoins Gloucestershire to the north east, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south east and Devon to the southwest. Much of its northern edge is the shoreline of the Bristol Channel. Somerton was the original county town, but in recent years that role has been transferred to Taunton. The only city is Wells.
Other important towns include Bridgwater, Glastonbury, Wells and Yeovil. The latter town is important in the manufacture of helicopters. Glastonbury is famous for its open-air rock festivals and many mythical associations. Much of the county is very scenic and relatively unspoilt. The Cheddar Gorge is famous for caves open to visitors. apple orchards were plentiful and to this day Somerset is linked to the production of strong cider, arguably more so than any other part of the world. Somerset contains England's oldest prison that is still in use, in the small town of Shepton Mallet.
Tourist attractions include its coastal towns, part of the Exmoor National Park, the West Somerset Railway (a heritage railway), and the museum of the Fleet Air Arm at RNAS Yeovilton.
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2 Districts of Somerset 3 Places of Interest 4 External Links |
Towns and villages
Districts of Somerset
Places of Interest
External Links