Like the face of a clock, there are fun places to visit and exciting things to do north, south, east and west of Newton Surmaville
Sitting equidistant between Exmoor National Park and the Jurassic Coast, Newton Surmaville is perfectly situated to offer all sorts of entertainment for children and teenagers. Much of the activities are physically challenging or “outdoorsy” but being close enough to Bath or Bristol, there are more peaceful options that are easy to find.
On the estate itself there is a trampoline, soccer, croquet, fishing, bike rentals, games room and two kayaks available for children to enjoy without travelling anywhere.
The Tunnel Tree Tops
24 miles south of Newton Surmaville is The Tunnel Tree Tops, an award-winning high ropes and zip wire adventure centre. Perfect for all the family as it caters for 6+ year olds with a minimum height of 1.2 m and under 115kgs. A visit here could be combined with a walk along the Jurassic Coast as this World Heritage site is only 2 miles away. Visit the Heritage Centre in Charmouth
The Cheddar Gorge and Caves
30 miles north of Newton Surmaville lies this famous gorge and the spectacular, stalactite show caves that are part of this Site of Special Scientific Interest.
If you’re feeling brave, you can experience the Black Cat Freefall in the heart of one of the most spectacular show caves, or go adventure caving; climbing up the Mushroom Chamber, crawling through the Sand Chamber and descending over 40ft into the heart of the cave system. This is an exhilarating experience and caters for children as young as 8 years old.
More generally you can walk in the footsteps of our ancestors exploring Cox’s Cave or climb Jacob’s Ladder to have a unique view of the Mendips and Somerset Levels.
Wimbleball Lake and Exmoor
45 miles west of Newton Surmaville lies Wimbleball Lake, nestled amongst the rolling hills of Exmoor National Park which offers all sorts of water-based activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing etc. A visit here could be combined with a visit to the Tarr Steps on Exmoor. Tarr Steps, the ancient clapper bridge dating back to around 1000 BC, crosses the River Barle and is one of Somerset’s most magical places. Paddle in the shallows, walk along the wooded bank or walk up Winsford Hill where you might catch a glimpse of the wild Exmoor ponies, or hear the call of the stonechat or even the grasshopper warbler.
If planes, trains and automobiles are more your thing, you could make a day of visiting first the Haynes Motor Museum, just 10 miles north of Newton Surmaville, and then pop into the Fleet Air Arm Museum on your way back where you can step inside the first British Concorde, experience the thrills of a working flight deck, and witness a dramatic air-sea rescue on the Aircraft Carrier Experience…. This is an all-weather venue which means it’s a good thing for a rainy day.
Newton Surmaville is a dream home for a large house party
…or an intimate gathering of family & friends with lots of different spaces for guests to enjoy both in the house and throughout the property.
Accommodation
Facilities
Location
Our Guests
The icing on the cake comes in the form of the wonderful staff, Harriet and Stuart, who maintain the house and grounds in immaculate condition and who are unfailingly attentive; their cooked breakfasts, eaten beside the flaming log fire and surrounded by historic objects, will live long in our memory. Whatever the occasion, be it a family holiday or a gathering of friends or colleagues, you can be sure of a warm welcome and an unforgettable experience at Newton Surmaville.
I was fortunate enough to celebrate my friend’s 50th birthday with a girl’s trip to this amazing home. Newton Surmaville combines the magnificence of an established country estate home with all the modern-day creature comforts. There are fruit orchards throughout the property where you can have your pick from apples, pears and plums. We enjoyed walking the property in the morning with our coffee and had cocktails every evening in the bar or in the upstairs library.
The fabulous bucolic views, stunning décor and top of the line linens made for the ultimate, relaxing trip which this stressed-out mom needed! We did some great antique shopping, ate some of the most amazing meals I’ve ever had and took a few day trips to visit the Roman baths and some surrounding historic estates.
I am hoping to return for a couples’ trip soon.
Staying at the Newton Surmaville House in Somerset was a once in a lifetime experience (but we hope to do it again as soon as possible). We were transported back to a period in time almost inconceivable to Americans, with all the amenities and comforts of modern day living — as a royal, that is. (Thanks, Harriet and Stuart!) The house is both grand and cozy, classical and contemporary, rustic and luxurious — and we nearly cried when we left.
Exploring the grounds outside the house was equally thrilling, with a rose garden to get lost in, a footpath along the River Yeo, and a meadow filled with grazing sheep. The surrounding towns Bruton, Bath, Stourhead were picturesque and fascinating, with wonderful architecture, gardens, museums, historic homes, antique stores, and restaurants to experience. To future visitors: whatever you do, don’t let your travel companions talk you out of seeing Stonehenge (like I did).
Our week stay at Newton Surmaville in Somerset was an absolute delight. The house is not only stunningly designed, but each room is cozy, inviting and perfect for time with friends, family or to just relax and enjoy a cup of tea. We also enjoyed walking the property, eating fresh fruit right off the vine and exploring the area all around the home. There are wonderful restaurants locally and many adorable towns to visit but everything we needed was right on property making our week both relaxing and fun.
We could not recommend this beautiful and historic home more and hope to come back for a visit again in the near future!
