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A warm welcome to Watchet, West Somerset

Watchet is an ancient harbour town, steeped in history, nestled between Exmoor National Park and the Quantocks in the South West of England. It is centrally located for people who want to Explore Exmoor National Park, the Quantocks or a traditional beach holiday. Whether you are visiting Watchet for the day or staying at one of our many Guest Houses, Hotels or Caravan Parks, you'll receive a warm welcome to Watchet, home of award winning shops, places to eat and drink, museums and Watchet Marina. This Website is brought to you by the members of W.A.C.E.T. Watchet and area Association of Commerce, Enterprise and Tourism, and it's purpose is to give you all the help and information you will need to make your stay with us an enjoyable one.

So lets answer some of the common questions that we all ask ourselves when planning a trip. How do I get to Watchet? Is there plenty of car parking? If I want to stay, where can I stay? Where can I eat and drink? What is the shopping like? What is there to see and do? What local transport and other businesses are there?

Watchet's Heritage in brief

Watchet was first recorded during the dark ages. When St Decuman arrived from South Wales and acted as a physician, arbitrator and pastor to the local community. He arrived on a raft with a cow as a companion! In the Iron ages Daws fort was built above Watchet to protect the port and area. It's then natural harbour made it an early trading centre and in the 10th century coins were minted here for Ethelred II and five more saxon kings. Watchet is unqiue in that it still retains the court leet system of medeival administration alebeit in name. Posts include Portreeve and the coveted position of Ale Taster. The Star Inn, won the Somerset 2006 CAMRA award for real ale. It's unclear if the Ale Taster had a hand in this. Watchet gets its name from WACET. The blue WACET dye found in the cliffs. Watchet became an active port with a host of commodities being traded up and down the coast, to Ireland and Wales, while the Mineral Line bought iron ore down for shipment to Wales.