Days Out

Travel better - live better. That's the motto.

When planning a day out, think about where you want to go and how you can get there. Day trips to places closer to home will cost less to get to, give you a shorter travel time and cause less CO2 emissions than trips further afield.

Somerset and neighbouring counties of Dorset, Devon, Bristol, Wiltshire and Bath & North East Somerset have thousands of fantastic destinations, ranging from historic houses and gardens to beaches, hills, science centres, zoos and adventure parks, many of which are easily accessible by public transport.

The Visit Somerset website has lot of ideas for days out and activities you can do in Somerset. It even has downloadable guides for Car Free Days Out to help you relax and enjoy Somerset without the car.

Find out if you could use the bus or train to get you to your destination. This is a great mode of travel for a day trip as it allows you to relax and take in the scenery or chat to your companions. Children find travelling by train exciting, and as they can walk around it can be far less stressful than strapping them into car seats for long journeys.

Use our Journey Planner to investigate your options and our bus and train pages for advice on finding cheaper fares.

Walking and cycling can be exciting activities in themselves, so are great ways to get to your destination. See our walking and cycling pages for quiet routes through scenic countryside that provide a great day out on their own, or an easy means of getting to other interesting destinations.

If you have, or are thinking about, getting rid of your car, but are worried about needing one for occasional trips and days out, it is easy to hire one in Somerset. Many of the main towns in Somerset have car hire firms where you can hire a car (or a van) from single days to a several weeks. Often these have good deals at the weekend, and you can get a small car for as little as £20 per day. Check their websites and book up as soon as you know your plans. Road tax, insurance, MoT, servicing and depreciation costs are things you don't need to worry about any longer. The costs of private car ownership can rack up to £4000 a year or more, so the occasional hire can be much better value for money.