Chard

Chard is a town of 14,000 people (2021) in Somerset. The town has a very unusual feature, a stream running along either side of Fore Street. One stream eventually flows into the Bristol Channel and the other reaches the English Channel.

Understand

Chard is one of the highest 121 m (397 ft) towns in Somerset.

Get in

The town's public transport links to Taunton are provided by First Group's Buses of Somerset. Two routes go between the towns. Route 30 and route 99, which both run hourly during weekdays. There is also a service to Yeovil via Crewkerne provided by South West Coaches.

See

Church of St Mary the Virgin

• 1 Church of St Mary the Virgin. This Anglican church dates from the late 11th century and was rebuilt in the 15th century. The tower contains eight bells, of which two were made in the 1790s by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family in Cullompton. The three-stage tower has moulded string courses and an angle stair turret in the north-west corner. The church has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.   
• 2 Chard Museum, Godworthy House, High Street, ☏ +44 1460 65091. 15 Apr—14 Oct: W-Sa 10AM-1:30PM, or by booked tour at other times. A small local museum in a converted 16th-century listed building, with collections of exhibits about local history and displays related to the lives of notable local residents. Adult £5, under 16 free. (updated Apr 2023)

Do

• 1 Chard Reservoir (approximately a mile north east of the town). A Local Nature Reserve used for dog walking, fishing and birdwatching, with a bird hide. Birds which are spotted regularly include herons, egrets, kingfishers, cormorants, grebes, gulls, ducks, and a wide range of woodland birds such as nuthatch, treecreeper and woodpeckers. Rarities have included ring-necked duck, great white egret, cattle egret and yellow-browed warbler. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Snowdon Hill Quarry. A geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. The site shows rock exposures through the Upper Greensand and Chalk which contain fossil crustaceans which are unique and exceptionally well-preserved. (updated Apr 2023)

Drink

The Choughs Pub

1 The Cerdic, 49-51 Fore St, TA20 1PT, ☏ +44 1460 260070. JD Wetherspoon (updated Apr 2023)

2 Kings Head, Church St, TA20 2DW, ☏ +44 1460 239010. (updated Apr 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Lordleaze Hotel, Henderson Drive, Forton Rd TA20 2HW, ☏ +44 1460 61066. (updated Apr 2023)
• 2 Cotley Inn, Wambrook TA20 3EN, ☏ +44 1460 62348. Cosy country pub with restaurant and rooms. B&B double £140. (updated Sep 2023)

Go next

Routes through Chard

Exeter ← Honiton ←

W  E

→ Yeovil → London