Gartell Light Railway

#60 among destinations in the United Kingdom

Amusement, Amusement park

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Facts and practical information

Nestled in the rolling countryside of South Somerset, the Gartell Light Railway offers a delightful excursion for families and train enthusiasts alike. This charming amusement park is built around a narrow-gauge railway that takes visitors on a nostalgic journey through the picturesque landscape.

Opened to the public, the railway operates on a stretch of track that winds its way through the scenic Yenston countryside, allowing passengers to experience the charm of vintage train travel. The trains themselves are lovingly maintained, featuring a collection of historic locomotives and carriages that evoke the golden age of steam.

The Gartell Light Railway is not just a ride; it's an immersive experience. Before or after their journey, visitors can explore the small but informative museum that sheds light on the history of narrow-gauge railways in the UK. The park also offers picnic areas where families can enjoy a leisurely meal in the great outdoors, making it an ideal spot for a day out.

Throughout the year, the railway hosts various special events, including themed rides for Easter, Halloween, and Christmas, which add an extra touch of magic to the experience. The dedication of the volunteers who operate and maintain the railway is evident in the attention to detail and the warm welcome they extend to all who visit.

Coordinates: 50°59'41"N, 2°24'10"W

Location

Common LnTemplecombe BA8 0NB EnglandUnited Kingdom

Contact

+44 1963 370752

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Day trips

Gartell Light Railway – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Sherborne Abbey, Wincanton Racecourse, Fiddleford Manor, Sherborne Old Castle.

6 miSW
Architecture, Sacred and religious sites, Historical place
Sherborne Abbey, Sherborne
152 min walk • Sherborne Abbey, otherwise the Abbey Church of St. Mary the Virgin, is a Church of England church in Sherborne in the English county of Dorset. It has been a Saxon cathedral, a Benedictine abbey church, and since 1539, a parish church.
4.9 miN
Sport venue, Sport
Wincanton Racecourse, Wincanton
126 min walk • Wincanton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wincanton, Somerset, England. The steeplechase fences are large, making it a good test of a chaser.
7.2 miSE
History museum, Museum
Fiddleford Manor, Sturminster Newton
184 min walk • Fiddleford Manor is a medieval manor house located near Sturminster Newton, Dorset. It is thought to have been originally built around 1370 for William Latimer, the sheriff of Somerset and Dorset, after the manor passed to him in 1355.
5.3 miSW
Historical place, Forts and castles, Vernacular architecture
Sherborne Old Castle, Sherborne
137 min walk • Sherborne Castle is a 16th-century Tudor mansion southeast of Sherborne in Dorset, England, within the parish of Castleton. It stands in a 1,200-acre park which formed a small part of the 15,000-acre Digby estate.
5.9 miW
Forts and castles
Cadbury Castle
152 min walk • Cadbury Castle is a Bronze and Iron Age hillfort in the civil parish of South Cadbury in the English county of Somerset. It is a scheduled monument and has been associated with King Arthur's legendary court at Camelot.
5.9 miSW
Specialty museum, Museum
Sherborne Museum, Sherborne
151 min walk • Sherborne Museum is an independent local museum centrally situated in Sherborne, a small market town in north-west Dorset. Formerly a Saxon burgh, Sherborne evolved through the cloth, gloving and silk industries and is embedded in varied countryside united by scarps of Jurassic limestone.
6.2 miNE
Church
St. Mary the Virgin Church, Gillingham
159 min walk • St Mary's Church is the parish church for the town of Gillingham in the Blackmore Vale in the north of Dorset. The church is in the Diocese of Salisbury in the Church of England, and part of the Anglican Communion.
5.3 miNE
Church
St George's Church, Gillingham
135 min walk • St George's Church is a Church of England church in Gillingham, Dorset, England. It was designed by Charles Ponting and built in 1921. It has been a Grade II listed building since 1985. Today the church is used for occasional services, and is maintained by the Manger family trust.
6.5 miSE
Church
St Mary's Church, Sturminster Newton
166 min walk • St Mary's Church is a Church of England Parish Church in Sturminster Newton, Dorset. The present church dates from a rebuild in 1486 by the abbots of Glastonbury. The church was heavily modified in the 19th century, but the carved wagon roof remains.
4.2 miN
Church
Church of St Peter and St Paul, Wincanton
107 min walk • The Anglican Church of St Peter and St Paul in Wincanton within the English county of Somerset is a Grade II* listed building. The Church of St Peter and St Paul was almost totally rebuilt 1887-91 by J. D. Sedding, however parts of the tower may be remnants form an earlier church, dating from 1313, on the same site.
6.1 miNW
Church
St Michael
156 min walk • The Church of St Michael in North Cadbury, Somerset, England dates from 1417, although the tower was built a few years earlier. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.