If you are visiting around the Taunton area I can recommend the Walnut Tree Hotel in North Petherton which lies on the A38 between Taunton and Bridgwater. Like many village hotels it is a former coaching house that has been extended over the years to become a substantial hotel.
During my recent stay I found the staff very helpful and attentive. The rooms are well above average size being spacious, light and clean. As well as the spacious en-suite there was tea and coffee making facilities for you to use. The décor was modern but perhaps in some areas getting close to a refit. One problem with a hotel like this is that refurbishments are often done piecemeal to avoid disruption to the capability of the hotel to receive guests. The consequences often are that the hotel has mixed decorative styles and this is apparent in parts of the Walnut Tree. One particularly nice thing about the Walnut Tree is that the rooms are so quiet inside. There is no noise at all from adjoining bedrooms or from outside.
The dinner we had in the evening was very good. Freshly cooked and with a menu that is not too plain and not too pretentious the dinner was good value (about £21 each for three courses excluding wine.) The service during the meal was particularly good. The breakfast is also excellent and to be recommended. A nice touch here is that your morning paper is waiting for you at your table as you sit down.
Being the critic I am I do have a couple of minor gripes. The bar was quite smoky and this did impinge into the dining area a little. There was also a guests lounge but this was distinctly smoky.
The room cost £75 for the night for single occupancy and I think this represented good value.
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the Walnut Tree is the ideal base for exploring the varied attractions of surrounding Somerset. Whether your idea of a ramble is the Quantock Hills or the Clarks V...
