East Somerset Spring Gala 2026

There is indeed. I was there last season. The path is not easy to navigate and considering the recent weather would suggest wearing a pair of wellies. <BJ>

 

Thanks to both of you for the replies, always have sturdy boots on hand for this sort of trip and it's Sunday afternoon when I'd be free to head over for the gala anyway so good to know that could be the (relatively) quieter end of things.

 

From two years ago, unless things have improved I would suggest "not easy to navigate" is perhaps an understatement. That of course does depend on your general mobility on very uneven ground. I felt a stick or as I had to do the use of a tripod and advantage.

 

Also good to know, thank you! I used to refer to my heritage railway visits as 'spending an afternoon falling in a hedge' as I've got through a few (literal) scrapes while finding appropriate lineside locations over the years and am fortunate enough to be ok on the mobility front right now. Helpful warning for this path, though, so it's much appreciated!

 

I would advise you not to venture into the fields to the south of Mendip Vale. The farmer is not the most welcoming of characters, probably due to past confrontations with trespassers. <BJ>

Timetable available here.
esr_spring_gala_2026_timetable.pdf

 

Ha! The scrapes have only been with foliage and the odd tumble! I'm if anything a bit too meticulous about avoiding trespass and probably miss out on some great shots by being too over-cautious in places that are public access just not clearly so. (e.g. I've never crossed over into the field on the other side of Bishops Bridge loop at the SDR even though there are so many people in it at every event that I assume it can't actually be private land)

Anyway, enough hedge divergences, I'll let this thread get back to the ESR event.

 

The comment about Saturday being "very very busy" is worrying - I fear that having supported the railway by buying a ticket in advance, I might then stand next to no chance of getting a seat on the star visitor (or even on any train). If they've oversold, on such a limited site, that will be very disappointing. Hopefully I'll be proved wrong!

 

Only 3 tickets online left for Saturday anybody turning up on Saturday may not be able to get a ticket according to the website