Location and the local area

There is lots to see and do near The Walnut Tree Hotel

Historic Sites and attractions

Taunton Heritage Trail

This is a self-guided circular walk leading visitors past some great places of interest. Some of these amazing places date right back to 1614.  

It doesn’t take long at all to get to Taunton, only about 10-15 minutes depending on traffic.

Further afield there is the magnificence of Exmoor and the Seaside resort of Weston-Super-Mare.

Glastonbury Tor

This Tor features the roofless St Michael’s tower; this hill has even been called the ‘holy hill’.

In early-medieval times there was a small monks' retreat on top of the Tor, founded probably in the time of St Patrick in the mid-400s.

The Tor is now owned and cared for by the National Trust and there is free access to the public at all times.

To get to Glastonbury it takes about 25-30 minutes, depending on traffic.
www.glastonburytor.org.uk

Family fun

Brean Leisure Park

This adventure Park is in Brean, near Burnham-on-Sea. This Park is of all ages, it is filled with a variety of rides, no matter how young or old there is something for everybody. There is also a swimming complex, outside and in.

To get to Brean it will take around 20-25 minutes depending on traffic.

Cheddar

In cheddar there are a variety of attractions for example:

Open top tour bus
See the mill-ponds, which drove gunpowder manufacturing, and the rocky crags, which delighted the Romantic Movement.

Cheddar Man- Museum of Prehistory
The mysterious burial place of Cheddar Man, a Mesolithic hunter gatherer.

Visit Gough's Cave
With its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites or Cox's cave and the crystal quest, a fantasy adventure for adults and children alike. website cheddarcaves.co.uk

Taunton

The County town of Somerset. Taunton is a 15 minute car journey with ample parking. Taunton Cricket Ground hosts many national and international cricket teams throughout the summer. Vivary Park Gardens the venue for the annual Taunton Flower show a blooming good day out. In the centre of Taunton visit the museum which is part of the 12th Century castle. It achieved notoriety in 1685 as the setting for Judge Jeffrey’s “bloody assizes” following the Monmouth rebellion.

Hestercombe Gardens

Enjoy a great day out, lose yourself in over 40 acres of walks, streams, formal terraces, woodlands and lakes. These magnificent gardens a unique combination of three period gardens, the Georgian landscape, Victorian terrace and Edwardian formal garden, these have all been restored to their original splendor. Hestercombe is situated just off the A38 and is signposted from all main roads.

Dunster Castle & Gardens

1000 years of history and a castle full of stories, Duster is situated on A39 heading towards Minehead, approximately 30 miles. Various weekend activities throughout the year, with the ever popular “Dunster by Candlelight”

Animal Farm Adventure Park

This park caters for the younger generation, it has play areas, cuddle time where the children can pet various animals and it even has an education centre to help the children learn at the same time as having fun.

This park is situated in Burnham on Sea and it takes approximately 15-20 minutes from the hotel.

Tropiquaria Zoo

This zoo is the place for both adults and children. It varies from animals to a radio museum to a children’s play area. The children can even meet the keepers at work. It’s hours of fun, rain or shine.

This zoo is situated in Watchet and it takes 25-30 minutes from the hotel.
www.tropiquaria.co.uk

Other attractions and sights to see and do

Dunster by candlelight

This event takes place the first Friday and Saturday in December, when the remarkably preserved medieval village turns its back on the present and lights it’s streets with candles. It begins at 5:30pm, and then people on stilts in fantastic costumes put up the lanterns. There is a brass band, a choir in the Parish Church; there are a variety of shops which can especially help due to the run up of Christmas. It truly is a magical event.

We have the wonders of Carnival at the beginning of November, Saturday here in North Petherton, Friday in Bridgwater and other dates in surrounding towns.

It can take up to 40 minutes to get there, however it will definitely be worth the trip.
www.dunsterbycandlelight.co.uk

Secret World Wildlife rescue

Secret World is both educational yet fun, teaches a child about responsibility. They can see the day to day caring for up to 4,000 wild life animals each year. If you look at the website below, before hand, you can play your trip around open weekends, there is no charge, however, they do ask for donations to the charity.

It is easy to get to and only takes up to 20 minutes to get to.
www.secretworld.org

Wookey Hole Caves

This is a great day out for the whole family; it ranges from golf, to seeing the witch that haunts the caves to Dinosaur Valley featuring twenty life-size dinosaurs.

It takes a round 30-40 minutes to get there.
www.wookey.co.uk

Images courtesy of Steve Edge and covered by the Creative Commons Licence