SOME of West Somerset’s hidden historical gems can be seen for free this week as part of Heritage Open Days, England’s biggest-ever festival of history and culture, ending on Sunday (September 21) and offering free access to nearly 6,000 buildings and sites, many usually closed to the public.

Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days marketing and projects manager, said: “This year is offering the most ambitious and wide-reaching Heritage Open Days programme yet, and it is brimming with great things to do.

“Whether it is well-known landmarks and hidden architectural gems or community-led talks and immersive experiences, the sheer diversity of places and stories on offer is extraordinary.”

West Somerset is opening some iconic but seldom-seen historical treasures to public view, including a Temple of Pan, ancient tombs and monuments, and woodlands, parks, and follies.

Here are just some of the free delights on many people’s doorsteps:

Nettlecombe Court, near Williton: Pre-booking not required.

Visit Nettlecombe Court, a classic country house now run by the Field Studies Council. Explore its historic ground floor rooms, featuring plaster ceilings and fine period architecture from the 1600s-1800s. A rare opportunity for the public to visit a privately run building.

Goathurst village heritage trail: St Edward, King and Martyr Church, Goathurst, near Bridgwater. Multiple dates available, pre-booking not required.

Visit the church as part of the unique Goathurst village heritage trail. View the wealth of ancient tombs and monuments to the Halswell-Kemeys-Tynte families and discover the fascinating links between the church and nearby Halswell House.

Also: The Temple of Pan, Halswell Park. Multiple dates available, pre-booking not required.

The Temple of Pan is part of the Goathurst Village heritage trail and was built as an ornamental folly as part of the landscape and gardens of the Halswell Park Estate in the 1770s.

Goathurst heritage trail: Halswell House, Parkland, Mill Wood and the Temple of Harmony.

Halswell House, Halswell Park. Multiple dates available, pre-booking not required.

Halswell House, Halswell Park. Multiple dates available, pre-booking not required.

View the Halswell House state rooms. Visit the gardens and parkland. Enjoy the woodlands, ponds and follies. Take part in a Goathurst heritage trail.

National Trust Coleridge Cottage: Guided walk and open day, 35 Lime Street, Nether Stowey.

Multiple dates available, Note: pre-booking preferred.

Meet at Coleridge Cottage on September 21 for free entry to the birthplace of English romanticism. Discover the poet’s legacy and enjoy a guided walking tour through the historic village.

Ashcombe Garden and White Rock Cottage, Simonsbath: Open days. Multiple dates available, pre-booking not required.

Visit the restored house and gardens for a range of guided walks, exhibitions, and family-friendly activities to learn about the Royal Forest of Exmoor, the Knight family reclamation, and the work of Exmoor National Park Authority.

Bampton Heritage and Visitor Centre, Station Road, Bampton. Multiple dates available, pre-booking not required.

Visit Bampton’s architecture, buildings, and church on a journey through this historic town’s built environment, past and present.

For more information on Heritage Open Days taking place in the area, visit the website.