So - we rose to the challenge, and we'd be delighted if you could join us in Taunton - Somerset's county town. With good rail links and just off junction 25 of the M5, Taunton nestles between 3 areas of outstanding natural beauty with stunning scenery, and a wonderful town skyline featuring the spires of its churches including St Mary Magdalene, built in 1508. Bath Place and St James' Street offer a range of independent shops and you can enjoy refreshments in elegant tea rooms; check out Vivary Park with beautiful gardens, high ropes, zip wire, and golf; Somerset County Cricket Ground and its cricket museum; Somerset Museum (free entry) located in the castle buildings in the town centre; and the coffee lounge and brasserie in the renowned wisteria-clad 4-star Castle Hotel, one of our accommodation options.
Location
Many of you asked for the conference to be held within the District to help the local economy: somewhere to allow for day delegates to access it easily, but also somewhere delightful enough for those who want to make a weekend of it.
Stroll along the river or canal, or around Longrun Meadow with its riverside cafe and willow cathedral (and for the more energetic, there may be a park run on Sunday morning!). Pamper yourself at Buff Day Spa in the town centre, or Mount Somerset or Cedar Falls Health Farm and Spa in nearby villages. Try Sheppy's Cider where there is also a cider museum. Picturesque surrounding villages feature visitor attractions such as world-famous Lutyens and Jekyll-designed Hestercombe House and Gardens, the National Trust's Fyne Court, the West Somerset steam railway, local breweries, quaint pubs, and horse riding. So much for individuals and families to do in this area!
Photographs Courtesy of Matt Sweeting Photography
The Venues
Kick off the weekend with a spot of golf at the glorious Oake Manor Golf Club from 11am Friday.Friday evening sees us hosted at Rumwell Hall, Taunton, for our hog roast and District handover, whilst the stunning 1870s building and grounds of Taunton School are the ideal venue for our Saturday festival conference and evening dinner. (Both venues have plenty of on-site car parking, and we will also be running a free coach service between these and local hotels.)
Taunton School has kindly offered us the use of some of their additional facilities, which we plan to access subject to numbers of family members attending.
And we haven't forgotten the golfers amongst you who like to play on the Friday - tee-off times have been booked at Oake Manor, just outside Taunton. Book your place for a round of Golf here