Plans unveiled for campsite near Somerset heritage railway

The East Somerset Railway runs seasonal heritage steam and diesel services on just over a mile of track between Cranmore and Mendip Vale, to the east of Shepton Mallet.

The railway forms part of the historic Cheddar Valley railway line, the majority of which closed during the infamous Beeching cuts of the mid-1960s - with much of the route now forming the Strawberry Line multi-user path through Shepton Mallet, Wells, Cheddar and through the Mendip Hills to Yatton.

Mr David Corp, who owns Merryfield Farm south of Cranmore station (the eastern terminus of the heritage line) has now applied for permission to create a new glamping site immediately to the south of the station complex, including improved pedestrian links to the trains.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the proposals by the early-autumn - meaning it could begin accepting bookings in early-2027 if approval is forthcoming.

Plans for glamping site on Piers Road near the East Somerset Railway in Cranmore (Image: Della Valle Architects)

The new glamping site will comprise six two-bedroom fixed holiday lets (each of which can sleep two people) and up to 13 yurts at the western edge of the site.

Access will be from Piers Road, with a new 25-space car park being created near the reception block, which will also include a kitchen area, showers and toilets.

A dog pond will be provided within the site, along with a wildflower meadow (to improve biodiversity), and existing footpaths to the railway station will be enhanced (with one being turned into a wooden board-walk.

A spokesperson for Della Valle Architects (representing Mr Corp) said: "The site is considered an ideal location to provide holiday accommodation in the form of lodges, glamping and free pitch camping, which can support diversification of the farm as a sustainable enterprise.

"The topography of the site is especially flat from the site entrance to the proposed location of the holiday lodges, reception and glamping area; therefore minimal landscaping works are required to facilitate this part of the proposed development.

"There are numerous local businesses which could benefit the construction and running of the enterprise, within Cranmore and the adjacent settlements.

"The proposed development will create new job opportunities such as cleaning, maintenance, groundskeeping, catering, reception staffing, and the construction process (in the shorter term), with future opportunities for growth subject to relevant permissions."

Simon Bending, general manager of the East Somerset Railway, has given the proposals his unequivocal backing, stating: "We wholeheartedly support the plans, which would provide a fantastic facility enhancing our operations at Cranmore.

View of Cranmore station on the East Somerset Railway, seen from Piers Road (Image: Google Maps)

"We would be keen to support the additional foot access to Cranmore station and our existing facilities."

Peter Thomson, who runs the station café at Cranmore, added: "We would hope that this would bring more visitors to the railway and to our business. It sounds like it’s something beneficial for all of us."

Somerset Council is expected to make a ruling on the plans within the next three months.