Hotels in Brendon Hills

Hotels are thin on the ground directly on the Brendon Hills themselves, a reflection of just how sparsely populated this ridge of Exmoor-fringe moorland remains. What accommodation does exist tends to be small and characterful: country inns such as Ralegh's Cross Inn sitting high on the moor, farmhouse bed and breakfasts converted from working farms, and a handful of guesthouses in villages like Roadwater and Wiveliscombe on the lower slopes. These are typically family-run, with an emphasis on hearty breakfasts and local knowledge of the walking routes on the doorstep, rather than resort-style facilities.

For a wider choice of hotels, the coastal town of Watchet at the foot of the hills has a small selection of guesthouses and B&Bs within walking distance of its working harbour, while Wiveliscombe to the south offers similar options along with easier access to Taunton and the M5. Those wanting more conventional hotel facilities, including larger chain hotels, will generally need to base themselves in Taunton or Minehead and drive up into the hills for the day, which is a perfectly workable approach given the compact size of the area and the quality of the roads once you leave the moor itself. Whichever base is chosen, it is worth booking ahead in summer and during the West Somerset Railway's peak season, as the number of beds across this quiet corner of Somerset is genuinely limited.