Chard

Perched at 121 metres above sea level on the edge of the Blackdown Hills, Chard holds the distinction of being the highest town in Somerset. It sits close to the borders of Devon and Dorset, giving it a foot in three counties and easy reach of the Jurassic Coast, the Devon countryside and the rolling hills of West Dorset. The town grew up around a wide, handsome main street lined with Georgian and Victorian buildings, many still bearing the plaques and blue markers that trace Chard's surprisingly inventive past.

That inventiveness is Chard's calling card. In the early nineteenth century the town became one of the country's great lace-making centres, after manufacturers relocated here from Nottingham bringing their machinery and expertise with them. Mills such as Boden's and the Holyrood Lace Mill turned Chard into an industrial hub exporting net lace worldwide, and the wealth it generated shaped much of the town you see today. Even more remarkably, it was inside a disused Chard lace factory in 1848 that local engineer John Stringfellow, working with William Samuel Henson, achieved the first sustained powered flight of a heavier-than-air machine — decades before the Wright brothers. Chard's quiet streets have a habit of turning up surprises like this, and a wander around town, guide or map in hand, reveals plaque after plaque telling that story.

Top things to do in Chard

Chard rewards a slow explore, and its surrounding countryside adds walking, gardens and history in equal measure. Highlights include:

• Chard Museum — housed in a row of 16th-century listed cottages, this community-run museum tells the story of the town's lace industry, its inventors including John Stringfellow, and the Chard Canal, alongside changing local history displays.
• John Stringfellow and the birthplace of powered flight — look out for the plaques and memorials around town marking the site of Stringfellow's 1848 flying machine trial, a genuinely under-sung moment in aviation history.
• Forde Abbey and Gardens — a few miles south of town, this former 12th-century Cistercian monastery turned stately home sits within 30 acres of award-winning gardens, complete with a 160-foot gravity-fed fountain, a walled kitchen garden and a well-regarded café.
• St Mary's Church — a Grade I-listed parish church in the heart of Chard, notable for its 15th-century tower and richly carved stonework.
• Chard's Georgian and Victorian high street — one of the widest and longest in Somerset, lined with historic buildings, independent shops and the old lace-mill architecture that defines the town.
• Castle Neroche — an Iron Age hillfort later reworked into a Norman motte-and-bailey castle, set in Forestry England woodland on the edge of the Blackdown Hills with far-reaching views.
• The Blackdown Hills National Landscape — Chard sits right on the doorstep of this designated landscape of ridges, commons and quiet lanes, ideal for walking, cycling and picnicking.

Getting to Chard

Chard lies just off the A303, one of the South West's main routes from London and the M3, making it a straightforward drive for visitors from the south east. The A358 runs through the town connecting Taunton to the north-west with Axminster and the Devon coast to the south. There is no working railway station in Chard itself — the nearest mainline stations are at Axminster, Honiton and Taunton, all roughly half an hour away by car, with regular services to London Waterloo and Paddington via their respective lines. Crewkerne station is also a practical option for onward rail travel. Local buses connect Chard with Taunton, Axminster and surrounding villages.

Best time to visit Chard

Spring and early summer bring Forde Abbey's gardens and the surrounding Blackdown Hills into full colour, making May and June a particularly attractive window for garden visits and walking. Summer is the obvious choice for exploring the countryside and hillforts at their greenest, while autumn adds rich colour to the Abbey grounds and the woodland around Castle Neroche. Winter has its own quiet charm, with the museum and town's historic buildings offering an indoor focus on shorter days.

Where to stay in Chard

Chard makes a good, well-connected base for exploring the Blackdown Hills, West Dorset and East Devon without the crowds of the coast. The town and surrounding villages offer traditional inns with rooms, small independent hotels and bed and breakfasts, while the wider countryside is dotted with farmhouse and cottage accommodation. Its position close to the Devon and Dorset borders also makes it a sensible overnight stop for those touring between the Jurassic Coast and Exmoor.

Food and drink in Chard

Chard and its surrounding villages have a good spread of pubs and restaurants. The Bath House Hotel & Restaurant in town is known for locally sourced menus and a warm welcome, while Ye Olde Poppe Inn, one of the oldest pubs in England, serves up a traditional Sunday roast. Just outside town, Hornsbury Mill combines a converted watermill setting with a popular bar and restaurant, and The Windwhistle Inn on the Blackdown ridge is well loved for its views, gardens and carvery. For something different, A Lusitana brings authentic Portuguese cooking to the town centre, while The Squirrel Inn nearby serves a solid range of local ales and ciders alongside pub classics.