Recommended by:

Steve R - Horrabridge

Our party:

• Adults:
• Ages:
•  

• 2
• 53 - 60
•  

Stayed:

4 Nights
March - 2014

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking
• Touring
• Local Food

• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment

Summary:

“Fourth visit to Woolcotts Cross Cottage and looking forward to the fifth!”

We couldn’t keep away! Back for another long weekend at Woolcotts, and the usual variety of weather, from strong winds, to snow, heavy rain and even some warm sunshine - but that’s what Exmoor’s all about. Finally made it up Dunkery Beacon, with fine views all around and across to Wales. The West Somerset Railway in Minehead is well worth a look. We spent a couple of hours there watching the comings and goings of the steam locomotives, and there’s a handy restaurant in the station, a shop full of railway-related goodies and even a second-hand book stall. Next time we may be organised enough to take a trip on the line.

Wheal Eliza, near Simonsbath, is well worth the mile or so walk along a picturesque valley. With a little careful looking, remains of shafts, adits, a waterwheel pit and the workers cottages can be found and the Wheal Eliza leat (that fed the waterwheel, that powered the pump by flat rods that crossed the river) is a prominent feature. (Industrial archaeology lesson ends here!) We extended our walk ..... by some six miles, and only just made it back to the car before darkness fell!

Picturesque Dunster is well worth exploring - not just for its range of shops selling local produce and its cafes that tempt customers with exceedingly appetising (but probably highly unhealthy!) cakes, but also for the walks through the woods around the castle. Our visit to the castle began at 11am and we were among the last to leave at 5pm. There is a tremendous amount to see and the staff are very welcoming. We were lucky to arrive on a day when trips were being offered around the Victorian kitchens - well worth doing.

However much we enjoyed visiting Exmoor’s attractions, we ensured that we made plenty of time to enjoy Woolcotts Cross Cottage in the evenings. As ever, the accommodation was faultless. Iain’s home-made bread went down admirably with a selection of local cheeses and the woodburner threw out the heat as we made our way through the stack of logs provided.

As ever, we enjoyed our stay immensely and will undoubtedly be back. Thanks once again to Iain and Pauli.

Specifically Recommend:

The cottage is thoughtfully planned, decorated to a very high standard and is extremely well presented. Everything works! (unlike some places I’ve stayed!)

Local Gems:

Dunster, Wimbleball Lake, Simonsbath, Dunkery Beacon, Oare Church (Lorna Doone country), Watchet harbour, Lynton, Lynmouth, Valley of Rocks, Porlock, Culbone church, Haddon Hill.........

En Route:

We didn’t need to stop as we only live a couple of hours travel away.

Steve R, Horrabridge, Devon - 10th May 2014

Overall Rating:

Comfort
Cleanliness
Meals / Kitchen
Bathroom Facilities
Quality Of Items
Useful Info

Recommended on 10/05/2014
By Steve R - Horrabridge

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Recommended by:

Holly H - St. Austell

Our party:

• Adults:
• Ages:
•  
• Children:
• Ages:
• Dogs:

• 2
• 35 - 45
•  
• 1
• 1 - 2
• 1

Stayed:

7 Nights
August - 2013

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking

• Touring
• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Local Food

Summary:

“Perfect get away to explore Exmoor and relax”

This cottage was perfect for us to explore Exmoor and to relax. The garden was completely secure so ideal for the dog and our 20 month old little boy to be set free in with no worries that they would escape!

It’s cosy with everything you need thought of, even wine, home made bread and a bowl of water for the dog to greet you on arrival.

We had a delivery of groceries from Asda booked up and that arrived with no trouble and on time so we could then relax and enjoy the surroundings for the evening.

To top it all most of the traffic passing by was tractors, quad bikes and horse riders so again it suited our little boy perfectly with frequent sprints round to the side gate to make sure he saw them pass by.

Specifically Recommend:

The garden is perfect for dogs and little ones as a safe, secure extension to the house. We spent a lot of time just in and around the cottage.

Be Aware:

There is no phone reception (ideal!) at all unless you fancy a walk up the lane. However there is a landline which makes it easy to stay in touch if you need to, and Wi-Fi too.

Local Gems:

Wimbleball Lake is about 500 yds walk down the road and perfect for letting dogs and toddlers wear themselves out.

Holly H, St. Austell, Cornwall - 24th August 2013

Overall Rating:

Comfort
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Useful Info

Recommended on 24/08/2013
By Holly H - St. Austell

I confirm Holly and her family were bona-fide paying guests at Woolcotts. The content of her recommendation was not incentivised and is factually accurate at the time of writing.
Iain Joyce, Woolcotts Cross - 29th August 2013

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Recommended by:

Steve R - Horrabridge

Our party:

• Adults:
• Ages:
•  

• 2
• 53 - 60
•  

Stayed:

4 Nights
March - 2013

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking
• Touring
• Local Food

• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment

Summary:

“You won’t want to leave and the guest book shows how many keep coming back.”

Our third visit to Woolcotts - that fact alone says it all! We live in a cottage on Dartmoor, so you might think that a spell in a cottage on Exmoor wouldn’t be that different, but although it’s only a couple of hours drive away, Exmoor has a character all of its own.

Geologists will be quick to point out that this is due, in part, to Exmoor being sandstone, rather than Dartmoor’s granite, and the pink of the local stone (and mud!) gives the landscape a feeling of warmth when compared to Dartmoor’s cold greyness.

This time we visited Bossington Hill, overlooking Minehead. The drive alone is worthwhile, with plenty of parking and excellent views of Porlock Weir and across the Bristol Channel to Wales. We walked on the hill for a couple of hours, during which time we enjoyed a spell of snow.

Leaving the car at the cottage, we walked to Haddon Hill at the southern end of Wimbleball reservoir via the dam. The view from the top was one of the best we’ve seen anywhere in the country. Heddons Mouth, near Combe Martin, is a pleasant walk to the sea along a pretty river valley and the whitewashed church at Selworthy has to be seen. We were pleased to see that Tarr Steps had been restored after being partly washed away in the winter floods.

The cottage was as quiet as ever, with only the noises of the countryside and the occasional car. It was the wrong time of the year to sit out in the garden, but in the summer I’m sure it would be easy to while away a bit too much time outside sipping one’s favourite alcoholic beverage.

Specifically Recommend:

The re-launched village shop is a must. We called in twice and found all kinds of tempting local produce, notably the Brompton Regis honey, bacon and bangers. Home bread-makers are well catered for. The shop is staffed by volunteers and a warm welcome is assured. Don’t go in expecting to come away with only the items on your list - something else is bound to tempt you!

Local Gems:

Indian restaurant-takeaway in Minehead. I can’t remember the name, but it was directly across the main street from the Co-Op. Friendly, helpful staff and a very nice meal.

Steve R, Horrabridge, Devon - 25th March 2013

Overall Rating:

Comfort
Cleanliness
Meals / Kitchen
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Quality Of Items
Useful Info

Recommended on 25/03/2013
By Steve R - Horrabridge

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Recommended by:

Gordon H from Normanton

Our party:

• Adults:
• Ages:
•  
• Children:
• Dogs:

• 2
• 63 - 65
•  
• 0
• 1

Stayed:

7 Nights
August - 2012

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking
• Touring

• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Local Food

Summary:

“A 4 star cottage that deserves 5 stars”

Excellent standard of maintenance and cleanliness, warm and comfortable. All one level. Kitchen very well equipped with all essentials (including little emergencies)

A safe and secure dog-friendly garden (bowl of water in kitchen for dog on arrival).

Very quiet working farming community (narrow single track lanes not for inexperienced driver or wide vehicles). No mobile reception but landline (with bedroom extension) and courtesy box in cottage.

More than ample secure parking. Lots of walks (short or long) close at hand.

Best cottage in 35yrs

Specifically Recommend:

Safe and secure dog-friendly garden

Standard of maintenance & cleanliness

Warm and comfortable

Local Gems:

Many and varied walks

Relaxing picturesque countryside

Gordon H, Normanton, W. Yorks - 25th August 2012

Overall Rating:

Comfort
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Recommended on 25/08/2012
By Gordon H from Normanton

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Recommended by:

Norman L from St. Just

Our party:

• Adults:
• Ages:
•  
• Dogs:

• 2
• 60s
•  
• 1

Stayed:

7 Nights
April - 2012

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking
• Touring

• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Local Food

Summary:

“The perfect place to stay for Exmoor”

Just Perfect.

Nothing else to say!

Specifically Recommend:

Woolcotts Cross Cottage - Without Hesitation

Local Gems:

West Somerset Railway and its Stations

Haddon Hill

Norman L - St. Just, Cornwall - 11th May 2012

Overall Rating:

Comfort
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Useful Info

Recommended on 11/05/2012
By Norman L from St. Just

I CONFIRM that Norman was a bona-fide paying guest at Woolcotts Cross. His recommendation was written without incentive and is factually accurate at the time of posting
Iain Joyce - 15.5.12

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Recommended by:

Steve R from Devon

Our party:

• Adults:
•  

• 2
•  

Stayed:

3 Nights
March - 2011

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking
• Touring

• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Local Food

Summary:

“Very enjoyable, comfortable cottage in an ideal location”

The accommodation was very accurately described on its own website, so well, in fact, that we almost felt we knew it before we arrived!

The cottage was rather like Dr Who’s Tardis in that it seemed considerably more spacious on the inside than seemed possible from the outside. That’s a testament to the cleverness of the barn conversion.

Iain and Pauli Joyce were very welcoming and we found a bottle of wine and loaf of home-baked bread waiting for us on arrival. Everything we could have wanted was provided.

The lounge is very cosy and comfortable, with a log burner that lights readily and sends one to sleep half way through Midsomer Murders. The beamed, pitched ceilings are a particularly attractive feature and all decoration is to a very high standard with nothing looking tired, as can sometimes be the case with holiday lets. To use my other half’s words, it was as if no-one else had been there when we arrived.

The surroundings are as rural as it’s possible to get. We probably didn’t hear more than half a dozen vehicles passing during our three day stay. We also appreciated the fact that we weren’t bombarded with a list of Do Not’s - Iain and Pauli manage the place in a very low-key way and seem to work on the basis that the kind of guests who rent their cottage are probably bright enough to look after it

Specifically Recommend:

Make time to enjoy the cottage. By all means go and see Lynton and Lynmouth, Watchet, the Valley of Rocks, etc., but leave time to stay home and crash out in front of the wood burner or sit in the garden.

Be Aware:

You will probably find yourselves planning your next visit before the current one has ended!

I cannot think of anything extra they could have provided, short of a butler.

Local Gems:

Dunster Church is worth a close look.

There’s a good antiquarian bookshop in Dulverton.

Being interested in mining, the Somerset Mineral Railway was on our agenda. Various mining remains can be visited along its route - Langham Hill engine house (foundations only), Burrow Farm engine house (Cornish type, reached by walking along a mile of the disused railway), the incline drum house, spectacular incline and a couple of miles of walkable trackbed from Watchet.

En Route:

We were only travelling for about two hours from Tavistock, so didn’t need to stop.

Steve R from Horrabridge - March 2011

Overall Rating:

Comfort
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Useful Info

Recommended on 23/03/2011
By Steve R from Devon

I CONFIRM that this review is authentic, having been written by a bona-fide paying guest, and is factually accurate at the time of posting - Iain Joyce, Woolcotts

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Recommended by:

Tom T from Glasgow

Our party:

• Adults:
• Ages:
•  
• Dogs:

• 2
• 50 - 60
•  
• 1

Stayed:

7 Nights
June - 2008

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking

• Touring
• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Local Food

Summary:

“Relaxing and tranquil”

The accommodation is ample for two or three persons. Freshly decorated and very well appointed. The garden is very attractive, particularly the herbaceous border around the door.

The garden is fully enclosed, so if you have a dog it can run around without any chance of escaping. The cottage has lovely views over this hilly part of West Somerset.

Specifically Recommend:

The nearest town, Dulverton (5 miles), is well worth a visit. Park down by the river.

The nearby Bridge Inn is good for lunch and real ale - dog-friendly too!

Wimbleball Lake is only 10 minutes’ walk from your front door. You can walk, sail or fish there

Local Gems:

Bridge Inn at Dulverton (food & drink)
The George at Brompton Regis

En Route:

We stopped at the Bell Inn in Frampton on Severn just off the M5, north of Bristol on the way home to Glasgow. Decent pub food.

Overall Rating:

Comfort
Cleanliness
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Useful Info

Recommended on 22/06/2008
By Tom T from Glasgow

I CONFIRM that this review is authentic, having been written by a bona-fide paying guest, and is factually accurate at the time of posting - Iain Joyce

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Recommended by:

M.W.B from Stoke Gifford

Our party:

• Adults:
• Ages:
•  

• 2
• 50 - 60
•  

Stayed:

3 Nights
May - 2008

Wanted:

• Relaxing
• Walking
• Fishing

• Touring
• Beach / Sea
• Shopping
• Entertainment
• Local Food

Summary:

“It’s the highlight of the year, have to keep coming back again and again!”

Have been coming back time and time again to this cottage. Wimbleball Reservoir is just a few steps away and there are many other walks available close by.

Perfect place to completely unwind and just chill out.

Specifically Recommend:

If you enjoy the countryside, fishing, walking, even sailing on Wimbleball Reservoir this is the place to stay.

This is the real countryside - farmyard smells and early morning chorus and, best of all, beautiful unspoilt views.

Be Aware:

Perhaps of the remoteness but this is part of the magic of the place. Just being away from it all

Local Gems:

Wimbleball Reservoir can be reached in a matter of a couple of minutes on foot.

The George Inn in Brompton Regis is excellent for food and real ale, a couple of minutes by car. Geat hospitality.

Overall Rating:

Comfort
Cleanliness
Meals / Kitchen
Bathroom Facilities
Quality Of Items
Useful Info

Recommended on 28/05/2008
By M.W.B from Stoke Gifford

I CONFIRM that this review is authentic, having been written by a bona-fide paying guest, and that it is factually accurate at the time of posting - Iain Joyce

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