Watchet is a harbour town in the county of Somerset. It is situated 15 miles west of Bridgwater, 15 miles north-west of Taunton, and 9 miles east of Minehead.

• The train station was first opened on 31 March 1862

Watchet’s port was valued by Alfred the Great as he attempted to fend off the Vikings and it even had its own mint producing coins. Before that there was an Iron Age fort that has fragments still evident today. The port came into its own once again in the 19th century when iron ore from the nearby Brendon Hills was exported to Wales. In 2000, the harbour was converted into a modern Marina. Watched over on one side by the 150 year old lighthouse and on another by a statue of Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner

There are only a few places in the town itself you’ll probably find more using Airbnb starting from £40 a night for a private room.

• 1940s Weekend.
• Lantern Night, which is held on 16 September and involves children in the town with candle lanterns made from hollowed out root vegetables such as mangelwurzel or swede. It was the last remaining reminder of the Watchet Fair (also known as St Decuman’s Fair).
• Queen Caturn’s Day on the last Saturday of November. Watchet was famous for its blue dye and Queen Caturn was so impressed she bestowed the town’s folk with cider and cakes as a reward for this. The tradition is carried on with costumes and celebration

• Bike, mostly flat and there is a cycle path to Helwell Bay.
• Taxi
  • Cliff’s Cabs, 01984 631973
  • CoastLine, 01984 633777
  • Data Cabs, 01984 639141
  • Mr Cabs, 01984 633333
  • Sam’s Cabs, 01984 639517 / 07799 466074
  • Watchet Minibus Hire, 01984 631819 / 07876 353819
  • Watchet Taxis, 0800 87 666 90 / 07807 066 847
• Walking, It’s only a small town, making it easy to walk everywhere.

Watchet TA23 0AQ. Car would be the easiest way to get here. There are four car parks to choose from with the long stay behind the Bell Inn.

• Bus, Service No. 28 – firstgroup.com.
• Car, Leave the M5 and follow the signs towards Minehead. At Williton turn left at mini roundabout and then 1 mile on turn right at the large roundabout onto B3191 to Watchet. For the scenic route over Exmoor, take the A396 to Dunster and then turn right onto the A39 until Carhampton. From there, turn left and follow the coast road through Blue Anchor.
• Train, Watchet station is now an intermediate stop on the West Somerset Railway, a largely steam-operated heritage railway that links Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, with Minehead. west-somerset-railway.co.uk.

• On a good day and tides permitting, you can walk from Watchet to Blue Anchor and back. However, the tide can reach very high up the beach at some points and you can be completely cut off. So be careful and make sure you allow plenty of time to get back if you choose this route.
• Nearest accident and emergency Lutterll Way, Minehead, TA24 6DF. 01643 701701.
• www.visit-watchet.co.uk
• lovewatchet.co.uk
• Tip: £25 off your first Airbnb trip of £55 or more click here.