Taunton Deane

Welcome to Taunton Deane which boasts a range of stunning landscapes, from cattle-grazed meadows of the Somerset Levels to the windswept heights of the Quantock Hills and, further south, the striking Blackdowns with their cloak of ancient woodlands.

Home to Taunton - Somerset’s lively county town; the bustling market town Wellington; and the historic Wiveliscombe.

Stand in the centre of any of these towns and you’re no more than a few minutes from beautiful countryside, for Taunton Deane remains a largely rural area and is the home of many types of farming from livestock rearing to fruit growing, for which it has long been famed.

Taunton Deane enjoys excellent transport links – it’s bisected by both the M5 and the Paddington-Penzance rail line – but economic growth hasn’t been allowed to overwhelm its special charm.

Leave behind the six-lane highway and the roar of the inter-city train and you plunge into a network of by-roads and lanes, some etched deep into the soft sandstones, others offering breathtaking views as they wind up steep hillsides, and all linking a network of quiet villages and tucked-away hamlets where time has not exactly stood still, but certainly appears to have slowed down.

Yet this is no backwater. Taunton Deane has a vibrant culture, world-class attractions for the tourist and a sometimes hectic social life. It was the birthplace of Taste of the West, Britain’s largest and most dynamic regional food marketing group and all the West Country’s legendary products including cheese and cider and many more besides are now made here.

First-class assured accommodation,  restaurants and pubs serving locally-sourced food and drink makes Taunton Deane the ideal destination for a day visit, short break or holiday.