Attractions and Places To See around West Crewkerne - Top 20

From the trig point at Pilsdon Pen summit, you get spectacular, wide-open views across Dorset. Looking south, the eye sweeps over the lush farmlands and rolling hills of the Marshwood Vale, extending all the way down to Bridport and the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast.

Gemini said If you find yourself in the rolling hills of West Dorset, the Church of St John the Baptist in Broadwindsor is a classic, "slow-paced" country church that packs a surprising amount of history into its quiet stone walls. It’s perched on a high spot right in the heart of the village, looking out over the square like it’s been keeping watch forever (which, to be fair, it mostly has). Here’s why it’s worth a wander: A Royal Fugitive’s Hiding Spot The village’s biggest claim to fame involves a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. After losing the Battle of Worcester in 1651, King Charles II fled for his life and spent a night right here in Broadwindsor. While the King was hiding in a nearby inn (now private cottages), Parliamentarian soldiers actually arrived in the village to search it. Legend says he only escaped because a local woman went into labor in the same building, causing such a chaotic distraction that the soldiers moved on without finding him. He eventually escaped to France, but the church stands as a silent witness to that tense night. The "Witty" Rector In the 1630s, the church was led by Thomas Fuller, a man described as one of the first English writers to actually make a living from his pen. He was famous for his "pregnant wit" and once said, "Charity begins at home, but should not end there." * Even today, the village is very proud of him—you’ll often find his quotes inscribed in the local community pub, The White Lion, just down the road. What to Look For Inside The "Wonky" Architecture: The church has a mix of styles because it’s been rebuilt and patched up over nearly 900 years. You’ll see heavy, rounded Norman arches on one side of the nave and more pointed "Early English" ones on the other. It gives the interior a slightly mismatched, organic feel. The Ancient Font: There is a square font made of Purbeck Marble that dates back to the early 1200s. It’s been used to baptize village children for eight centuries. The Bells: The tower holds a ring of six bells. Some of them are "pre-Reformation," meaning they’ve been swinging in that tower since before Henry VIII broke away from Rome. The "Compromise" Clock: If you’re there during the day, you’ll hear the clock chime. There was a recent local debate about whether it should chime at night; in a very "British village" move, they compromised—it now stays quiet from 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM so the neighbors can sleep!

However, such war memorials, which one encounters so frequently along the way, regardless of nationality, language, or name, are always a testimony – still significant and relevant today – to the horrors of war and tyranny. They therefore all have two essential functions, and this continues anew for each generation: -1- To commemorate and remember the victims -2- To remind people of the need to maintain peace

Donyatt Halt Records for Donyatt Halt state: "This halt, opened on May 5th, 1928, has a single platform edged with wooden sleepers, and a small wooden shelter. A pathway leads up from the platform to the road, which crosses the line by an overbridge at the Ilminster end of the platform. An ornate oil lamp stands at the top of the path and there are various posts with brackets for hanging oil lamps in winter." It would be the guard's duty to light and extinguish these lamps. Five trains a day operated in each direction taking about 45 minutes for the 15 - mile journey from Taunton to Chard, having made stops at Thornfalcon, Hatch, Ilton, Ilminster and Donyatt. Donyatt.com

The summit of this hill represents the second highest point in Dorset, and from here, you'll have breathtaking panoramic views. At the top, there was an Iron Age hillfort, which was excavated in the mid-20th century.

At the heart of the village, you'll find this lovely church, with its churchyard, of which the oldest parts are known to date back to the 12th century, in a Norman Romanesque style. During the Victorian era, it underwent significant restoration, so you can see signs of this period in its exterior appearance.

Commemoration Second World War (1939-1945), First World War (1914-1918), Northern Ireland Conflict; The Troubles (1969-1998) Maker Ham Hill and Doulting Stone Company (Makers) Mr W. Bussell of Montacute (Designer) Ceremony Unknown Date: 19 July 1923 Attended by: HRH Prince of Wales KG laid a bronze laurel wreath at the foot of the memorial (to whose column it was later fixed). Unveiled Date: 26 September 1920 Attended by: Reverend E. Skilton Dedicated Date: 26 September 1920 Attended by: Reverend E. Skilton performed the service. Those present included relatives of the Fallen, and villagers

There is a single pub called the “The Prince Of Wales” at Hamhill, which sells, ice cream, ales, ciders, and food… With out door seating, overlooking the rolling Slopes.