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THE FERN WORLD 
and Minehead. The scenery along this ronte to the north- 
west Somersetshire coast is not striking ; but it lias a 
quiet pastoral beauty of its own. About half-way between 
Taunton and Watchet, however, it manifestly improves, and 
assumes a somewhat bolder character, the improvement 
continuing as you follow the route into Devon. On the 
whole, however, there is a great and striking contrast between 
the scenery of Somerset and of Devon. Somerset is pretty, 
and quiet, and pastoral. The landscapes wear an aspect of 
peace and calm, and the cattle grazing along the meadows 
seem to have an air in keeping with this especial aspect of 
the country. Somersetshire, however, except on the borders 
of Devon, is not romantic. It has few bold hills. Its 
slopes are gentle, and its scenery generally does not present 
any bold contrasts. From AVatchet the Great AVestern line 
takes a sharp turn to the west, and by way of Blue Anchor — 
whence a pretty peep of the sea can be had and of the Welsh 
coast, dimly defined on the opposite side of the Bristol 
Channel — goes on to Minehead, a quiet, straggling, clean- 
looking little place, half town, half village, calmly reposing 
on the sea shore. 
From Minehead, the lover of natural scenery will prefer, 
in selecting the ronte to Porlock, to take the bridle path 
across the highlands overlooking the sea, instead of the less 
interesting, though beautiful, coach road. The road from 
Minehead to these highlands is somewhat steep, but from the 
highest point, immediately above the town, it gently winds 
over the hills, sinking and rising as you proceed onwards. 
Away on the left rise the dark brown hills of Exmoor. On 
the right rolls the sea, at the feet of rounded bluffs, sweep- 
ing symmetrically down to the water level. Strikingly 
pretty is the view you get, as, on terminating the hilly route, 
you come in sight of Porlock. The route we followed on 
our tour — there was a choice of bridle paths and we selected 
