200 years of cider making has been passed down through six generations of the Sheppy family, so they certainly know what they're doing at Sheppy's Cider. It's a good place to visit when you're on your group holidays in Somerset; go and have a tasting session, walk through the orchards, visit the Rural Life Museum, stop for lunch in the cafe or restaurant. Don't miss Sheppyfest, the first weekend in September, with live music, food and drink.

T: 01823 461233

The West Somerset Railway is a lovely old fashioned steam railway that stops at several places along the Somerset coast; catch a train to the seaside at Watchet, Blue Anchor or Minehead, go and see Dunster Castle, or have a pootle round Bishop's Lydeard. You can have drinks or lunch on the train, book up for events like Murder Mysteries, or hire a carriage for a special occasion.

T: 01643 700398

A Victorian country house owned by the National Trust and set in quintessential English parkland, with woodlands, walks and a formal garden. The house is gorgeous - ornate and quirky, typical of the Gothic revivial period; there are family trails and you can even stop and have a tinkle on the piano in the drawing room. Have refreshments in the Conservatory Tea Room or in the Stables Cafe.

T: 01884 254665

Here’s your chance to get behind the wheel of some seriously big earth moving machines. Just minutes from the M5 near Cullompton you can climb on board and drive and operate real diggers – it’s great fun! Diggerland Devon has something for all ages, with rides, mini tractors, dodgems and go-karts. There’s a picnic area, a café and a gift shop; they also do Experience Days for adults and groups.

T: 01634 711711

11 miles of gentle waterway in mid Devon; go there to fish, to cycle along the towpath or just to stroll and look out for wildlife. Hire a rowing boat or Canadian canoe, or take a leisurely ride on a horse drawn barge. Refreshments a-plenty at Duck's Ditty Floating Cafe Bar or at the Canal Tea Rooms & Gardens. 

T: 01884 254072

A great place to idle away an afternoon; have a trip along the Grand Western Canal on a horse drawn barge, or take a rowing boat or Canadian canoe out on the water. Wander around the nature reserve and see what you can spot, or cycle along the 11 mile towpath. You can treat yourselves to refreshments at the Duck's Ditty Floating Cafe Bar when you've finished.

T: 01884 253345

If you’re strolling around in Tiverton go and see the romantic castle, originally built in 1106. The sense of tranquility is almost overwhelming, especially in the 3 acre gardens where paths and steps lead down to the River Exe and the air is thick with the scent of climbers in the summer. Take a tour of the castle, try on Civil War armoury, find out about the secret passages and ghostly goings on. No dogs.

T: 01884 253200

Go and spend a couple of hours discovering all about the history of Mid Devon – the everyday lives of the people who lived in these parts and the part that agriculture and industry played in shaping the area. Plenty of interesting things to look at including Roman artefacts, an old kitchen and laundry, a farm wagon, and the ‘Tivvy Bumper’ steam engine that ran on the Great Western Railway. Explorer packs, quizzes and trails for kids.

T: 01884 256295  

Find out about Dulverton and the surrounding area; 5 exhibition rooms include a look at the life of Granny Baker at the turn of the 20th century, a model railway of Dulverton Station as it was in the 1930’s, and plenty of archive material. Admission is free, shop with souvenirs and crafts, open 6 days a week from April to October.

T: 07969 243887   

The Museum of Somerset is a very informative museum within the walls of Taunton Castle, right in the middle of town. There are some interesting galleries here, with highlights being the Low Ham Mosaic depicting the love story of Dido and Aeneas, a replica of the Alfred Jewel, a near perfect Bronze Age torc, the skull of a cave bear, and a pair of giant's shoes. There's a shop and a cafe with a peaceful cobbled courtyard.

T: 01823 255088

Dunkeswell Aerodrome is the home of Devon & Somerset Flight Training, so people come here for flight lessons and experiences, or just to watch the planes come and go and parachutes landing. There's a cafe, a heritage centre and a cafe/restaurant with views over the airfield - a warmer vantage point as this former WW2 US Naval base is high up on the Blackdown Hills and you don't half notice it when there's a cold wind blowing. Book flight experiences and wing walking in advance.

T: 01404 891643

These 15 acre gardens have evolved from one woman’s dream and hobby to a wonderful world in the Mid Devon countryside. It’s all rather enchanting, with surprises round every corner, especially in the Nursery Avenue. There are lakes and ponds, a bog garden, immense lawns and even a mill and waterwheel. The gardens are only open in the summer, in conjunction with the National Gardens Scheme, so make the most of your visit and allow time for a game of crazy golf and a cream tea.

Watch banger racing at Smeatharpe Stadium, high up on the Blackdown Hills. It all starts with a Grand Parade before the first race; expect bashes and crashes as the crowds cheer on their favourites in the Westcountry Wreckfest, National Bangers Crasharama and the very aptly named Caravan Chaos.Take chairs and blankets, and wrap up warm because the wind can't half blow up there. Hot and cold food stalls and usually, a bar.

Go and soak up the hallowed tranquility of this beautiful abbey - the 15th century refectory, cloister buildings and gatehouse. If you go by steam train and get off at Washford it's only a ten minute walk here, and you can picnic in the peaceful grounds.

T: 03703 331181

Take the family to explore the 5.5 acres of grounds here and to see the animals - wallabies, meerkats, monkeys and tapirs; watch the fish in the Aquarium,spot free flying birds and geckos in the Tropical Hall. There are outdoor and indoor play areas and a cafe. 

T: 01984 640688

At Hestercombe House & Gardens there are 50 acres of the most gorgeous gardens and grounds to stroll around and it's all rather romantic with classical temples, cascading waterfalls and tranquil lakes. Amble through the woodlands, see the fully restored 17th century watermill, relax on the formal terrace. There's a picnic area, cafe, shop and playground, and exciting events throughout the year.

T: 01823 413923

The Exmoor Pony Centre is run by a charity that works to promote and protect the rare-breed Exmoor pony and though admission is free they rely on donations and fundraisers to to help support their work. Go and meet the ponies and stroke them, have a taster groomng session or go for a trek. They have fun days, demonstrations and talks, and you can even have a pony party or adopt a pony. Open 1st April-end Oct, indoor and outdoor picnic areas.

T: 01398 323093

Not just for train enthusiasts! There's a model village, model funfair and model railway, plus a narrow gauge railway and a miniature railway to ride on. Play crazy golf, have a go on the Black Hold Orbiter Ride, take the young 'uns to the indoor or outdoor play area. Wind up at Buffers Tea Rooms with a pot of tea and homemade cake.

T: 01884 855671         

A lovely place to stop off for a couple of hours or so, especially if you’re hungry because they have a very good café that does breakfast, lunch, tea and cake, and a carvery on Sundays. There are animals to say hello to – chickens, goats, pigs, llamas and ponies, and if it’s raining you can take the tinies inside to romp about in the play barn.

T: 01984 634535     

A fairy tale castle owned by the National Trust; it stands high above the streets of Dunster and has over 1,000 years of history to find out about. Lots to see in the house, dungeons to visit, a secret passage and family trails. Have a game of snooker in the Billiards Room and then explore the parkland. 

T: 01643 821314

Stroll along the leat to this historic mill that’s owned by the National Trust and is part of the Dunster Estate. Learn about the milling process over three floors of traditional machinery, go to the shop and buy a bag of flour to take home and make cakes, bread or pizza dough.

T: 01643 821314

One of those things you just have to see if you're round these parts. This clapper bridge crosses the River Barle - it's not the original one, that was swept away, but it's identical. Walk from here along the river bank and up to Winsford Hill to see Exmoor ponies grazing. Just up the road is Tarr Farm Inn, a nice spot for a bite to eat.

Discover the story of this peaceful Exmoor village with it’s 10,000 year history, see thousands of dolls collected by a local woman since 1957 in her Dunster cottage and added to with dolls from the later 20th century. There are exhibits from all the different periods in their original clothes, Artist’s and Fashion Dolls and the well known Bristol Red Cross Dolls.

T: 01643 821493

See the costume collection in the house (the little ones can spot Builder Mice), explore the grounds and see the Bear Hut and the Ice House; go and play in the parkland, build a den and hunt for bugs. As with most National Trust properties these days there's a lovely cafe and a second hand bookshop. 

T: 01392 881345

Crealy Theme Park & Resort is an award winning theme park that makes for a brilliant family day out. There are over 60 rides, indoor play areas, entertainment and live shows, and it’s home to Sooty Land. Ride the Vortex, the Twister and the Soak Zone, little ones will love Neptune’s Tea Cups. Go say hello to the 200+ animals who live here including meerkats, wallabies and alpacas. Lots of food outlets on site. Book online.

If you're not too claustrophobic have a tour of the Underground Passages in Exeter; these are the only passages of this kind open to the public in the country and it's fascinating to think of the hustle and bustle going on in the streets above you when you're down here. The vaulted passages were built in medieval times to bring drinking water into the city, so it's a bit damp in places and a bit narrow; you'll certainly need sensible shoes.

T: 01392 665887

Escape the busy streets of Exeter with a morning or an afternoon spent at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. It's utterly fascinating, with displays to arouse and inspire curiousity in young and old alike; see the decorated coffin of the mummy of Shep-en-Mut, pottery from ancient Rome, huge wooden shields and weapons from Oceania, and in the Case Histories Gallery you can meet an African bull elephant and Gerald the giraffe. Interactive and immersive; who can resist trying on the Roman helmet?

T: 01392 265858 

Walk up over the cliffs to the smallest parish church in England, seating only 33 people. It was used as the setting for John Rudd's wedding in a televised version of Lorna Doone and on the hillside are the romantic ruins of Lord Byron's daughter's gothic mansion and tunnels carved in the hillside.There's also a lovely little tea room; a lovely spot.

T: 01598 741270

A wonderful example of Gothic architecture in the middle of the city; take in the longest continuous medieval stone vault in the world, the rich decoration and ornate carvings, see the colourful painted angels in the Minstrels Gallery, the Exeter Astronomical Clock and the Bishop's Throne. Free tours are run several times a day.

T: 01392 255573

A seriously good zoo with some very unusual creatures - the big hairy armadillo, rusty spotted cat, cotton-top tamarind and bat-eared fox for example! Stroke alpacas, handle a snake, hear the cacophonous black and gold howler monkeys and singing dogs. Take a picnic or go to the African Cafe.

T: 01598 763352