Somerset is one of the largest counties in Southern England and the changes to the scenery can be quite dramatic. In general, the county is one of well-wooded undulating countryside and consists of a flat basin surrounded on three sides by hills and on the fourth side by the Bristol Channel.

To the north-east are the Mendip Hills which are dissected by deep narrow valleys such as Cheddar Gorge which provide dramatic scenery. To the north-west is Exmoor and the Quantock Hills. The Blackdown Hills are to the south and to the east of the basin is the marshy area of Sedgemoor. The principal rivers in the county are the Exe and the Parrett, the latter flowing through a flat reedy area drained for cultivation and known as the Somerset Levels.

The north of the county includes an area formerly known as Avon but which now has been returned to Bath and North East Somerset. Transport to the area is reasonable with trains from Taunton to the west of the county taking approximately 100 minutes to Paddington and the fast line from Bath taking only 90 minutes. The journey from Yeovil Junction takes approximately 135 minutes to London Waterloo as it is affected by single track to the west of Salisbury. The A303 is the main trunk road running through the county and it is mostly dual carriageway. Taunton is about a 3-hour drive to London, while Wincanton to the east is less than 2 1/2 hours. The further north or south from the A303, however, increases travel times due to busy 'A' roads and small lanes. The M5 services the west of the county linking it to the Midlands and the North, while Bath and North East Somerset are close to the M4.

The more popular areas of the county are centred around the hills. Centres such as Shepton Mallet and Yeovil, however, are fairly second rate due to industry and urbanisation; the Somerset Levels are not so popular because of the flat landscape and the proximity of RNAS Yeovilton which is a busy airbase. Somerset is very much a county for second homeowners or for those who work locally and, as such, property prices have kept relatively low in the more rural areas. Closer to Bath and Bristol, however, a mini market has emerged making for higher prices in the better parts of the cities and the surrounding villages. Tourism is quite prolific but fairly spread and much less than in the Cotswolds, though summer traffic heading on to Cornwall and Devon can make for crowded roads in the summer.

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