SOMERSET DAY on 11 may
Many people living outside the county of Somerset my be unaware that Somerset Day is on 11 May. Introduced in 2015, the date was chosen following an online vote. The idea is to provide a focal point to celebrate all that is great about this wonderful county.
Alfred the great is behind the date
So, why the 11 May you may be thinking? Well, the date was chosen in honour of Alfred the Great. In 878, this King of Wessex gathered together the people of Somerset to march against the Viking army. (The picture above is of King Alfred’s Tower. It is believed to mark the site where King Alfred rallied his troops.) Alfred and his Somerset men defeated the invading Vikings and Alfred went on to become a dominant ruler. Apparently, he is the only English monarch to be accorded “the Great” in his title!
(Read more about the Treaty of Wedmore between King Alfred and King Guthram.)
But enough of the past. Today, tourism plays a vital role in the health of the Somerset economy. (The pandemic hit the county hard. Many in the hospitality sector fell by the wayside.)
That being said, our glorious county still has a little way to go before our tourism sector catches up with those of Devon and Cornwall. There must be thousands of people who still just drive through Somerset on their way further West. Please stop (preferably at my B&B in Croscombe!) and see what this amazing county has to offer. I hope the following whets your appetite.
SO MUCH TO SEE & DO IN SOMERSET
Like the seaside? Well Somerset has plenty of coastline. This varies from sandy beaches to rugged, Jurassic sections packed with fossils.
Love the countryside? The county has plenty of that too. Around two thirds of Exmoor National Park actually lies in Somerset and there are several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Somerset. If you love nature, there are also a host of fabulous nature reserves to choose from.
Enjoy a bit of culture? No problem. Somerset has an abundance of historical buildings and heritage sites. The county contains over 10,000 listed buildings, over 500 ancient monuments and 36 English Heritage sites!
Just a few miles from The Cross at Croscombe are mystical Glastonbury (said to be the home of Christianity) and Wells (England’s smallest city).
Family attractions
Family attractions more your thing? Somerset has plenty of them too. Aside from a host of cracking National Trust properties there are gorges, caves, museums, gardens and leisure parks to explore. There is something fantastic going on each and every month; from music festivals in the summer to huge, illuminated carnivals in the winter.
Somerset offers so much more than great cider, tasty cheese and a massive music festival.
As a Somerset girl I’m proud to promote this special day. I hope you will come and experience this glorious county for yourself.