Leisure and sports facilities cater for all tastes in Somerset. The county is probably best known for its cricket club that is based in the centre of Taunton. Many of the villages have their own cricket clubs too and they can be seen out in their whites during the summer months around the county. Taunton is also proud of its basketball team, the Taunton Tigers who are in the national league.

Cyclists are well catered for in most of the county. Connecting Padstow with Bristol and Bath the West Country Way takes riders down pleasant country lanes across the county and alongside Bridgwater and Taunton's canalside waterfront - for the dedicated there are the challenges of the Blackdown or Quantock Hills compared to the more leisurely routes across the Somerset Levels.

Taunton was one of the first towns in the country to have a purpose-built cycle station. And, of course, there are endless opportunities for walkers to pursue their pastime in all sorts of terrains.

For those who enjoy a flutter on the horses Somerset has racecourses in Taunton and Wincanton and point-to-points are held on farmland across the county.

Taunton has a polo club with matches played every weekend during the season. Somerset is great horseriding country with extensive networks of bridlepaths through breathtaking countryside. The county also offers coarse, game and sea fishing. Sedgemoor is known for the quality of its waters and national competitions are held there. Inland there are reservoirs, including those at Chard, Clatworthy, Wimbleball and Axbridge, lakes, rivers and ponds which all offer fishing opportunities. Sailing is also a popular pastime both inland, there are clubs in Chard and Yeovil, and on the Bristol Channel.

Highbridge has a cruising club which has a mix of sailing cruisers, motor cruisers, dinghies and power boats.

Golf courses can be found across Somerset including Berrow Links in Sedgemoor - a championship course. Countywide there are swimming pools, indoor and outdoor, to cater for serious and leisure swimmers alike. There are also plenty of bowling clubs of both the indoor and outdoor variety.

Running clubs are located around the county, including one at Minehead. For those who enjoy motorsport regular stockcar racing is held on the Mendip Hills in the summer months and other tracks cater for motorcyclists.

For something out of the ordinary there is caving and abseiling on the Mendips and sand yachting on the coast. Bird watching is another popular pastime. The RSPB has a reserve near Langport and there are reserves on the Levels and on the wild part of the coast around Hinkley Point. Yeovil has its own ski centre with a large nursery slope set on a natural hillside. Football clubs catering for all abilities and ages can be found across the county with Yeovil Town being nationally recognised. Thriving rugby clubs are located throughout the county.