Week Cottage
16363.3 miles N of Dulverton / Sleeps 2 (no children under 18)
7 Nights from £322
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearest pub
Badgers Holt Inn (½ mile)
A typical country watering hole that dates from the 1750s, dogs are welcome and traditional home-made pub food is served.
Nearest beach
Dunster Beach (9 miles)
Dunster Beach enjoys beautiful views of Blue Anchor Bay and out towards the Bristol Channel. A mixture of sand and pebbles, the beach is overlooked by the West Somerset Railway Line and is easily accessible via the South West Coast Path. There are also lots of parking options, with car parks and separate parking close by. With dogs only restricted from certain parts of the beach, Dunster's flat sands, gentle gradient and lovely scenery make it a lovely spot to breathe in the fresh air and go for a walk.
Nearest walk
Tarr Steps Walk (2 ¾ miles)
An absolute must for anyone staying in the area, this gem of a walk takes you to one of the oldest bridges in the world, through a peaceful valley and ancient woodland. Choose from a short stroll to a longer 12 mile trek.
Mrs George May 2014
NIce setting
We didn't do the full walk, but visited the Tarr Steps with our dog, and walked along by the river and through woodland. I heard it can get quite busy, especially with the narrow lanes, so we went early in the day when it was quieter. A really enjoyable walk and crossing the bridge. (Car park, £2 all day, has toilets - but no dog poo bins nearby).
Miss Waring July 2013
A lovely walk.
A lovely walk and with the stone steps across the river it is a sight not to be missed.
Nearest town
Dulverton (3 ¼ miles)
This village is in the heart of Exmoor’s most outstanding countryside. Here you’ll find the Exmoor National Park Centre, which has stacks of information regarding activities on the moors, plus some pleasant cafes and pubs for lunch or a cream tea.
Mrs Gerwat March 2020
Bookshop
You could lose yourself in here for hours. A treasure house of second hand and antiquarian books, well worth a visit.
Ms Neufeld July 2017
Dulverton
Very nice town with pretty shops and good Pubs and Inns
Jo Knight June 2016
Heritage Centre
This is an excellent display of local artefacts, pictures, countryside etc. Also railway history and a good kitchen display with a "talking" cook and housekeepr. Upstairs there is more to see - it is especially worthwhile sitting and watching 4 short videos of local events. All this for FREE although they ask for a donation. Coming into Dulverton turn left immediately after the bridge and follow the road around a big curve until it ends in the carpark with access to the centre. otherwise access through the information centre in the main street. This also has a good supply of maps, leaflets etc and the best postcards!
Mr Morgan May 2012
An interesting little town full of conveniences.
Dulverton is not exactly somewhere I could imagine spending an entire day at, but it does provide a good centre by which to stop by and stock up. There are plenty of conveniences such as a local co-op for your simple needs (bread, milk and some alcohols: beers...not wines, go somewhere decent for wine), small thrift shops as well as some tea rooms including Lewis's which is a personal favourite. There is a beautiful church at the top of the town which is worth popping into, and in the centre of town there is a fish and chip shop which opens at lunchtime from 12 noon until 2pm. There is also a bakery which sells a selection of baked breads, pies, sausage rolls as well as many sweet items, the game pie is delicious and enormously filling. The tea rooms near the co-op (I have forgotten the name!) are smaller than Lewis's but offers an entirely different ambience, more cosy and homely, helped in no small way by the warm, friendly manners of the owners (of which the landlady kindly ushered us in for tea as we oogled the menu outside, proclaiming the redundancy of pneumonia when there are menu's indoors to browse).
By far this is no Dunster or Tiverton etc, but it is a quaint little town that is central to lots of local attractions and is worth stopping by for an hour or two.
Also nearby
Tarr Farm Inn and Restaurant (3 ¼ miles)
In a glorious position next to the River Barle, Tarr Farm does great lunches, cream teas and bistro-style dinners; choose from Exmoor lamb, Devon Red Ruby beef, fresh Cornish seafood, local venison and game.
Miss Lewis September 2014
Lovely Food, Unfriendly Service
Usual case of visitors are second-class citizens and can be treated accordingly. Great food and a great location - the efforts of the chef were wasted by the arrogant waitresses and barmaid who were just not interested. I'd rather have good food and excellent service than excellent food and unfriendly service that we had here.
Save your money and eat elsewhere.
Mr Rodgers July 2014
The best cream teas in the world
I've been returning to the Tarr Farm Inn for as long as I can remember (at least 16 years as an adult after first going there as a child in the 70s and 80s). It is set in a lovely location overlooking the clapper bridge at Tarr Steps. I don't think I've ever got round to sampling the restaurant's menu beyond the cream tea as it is simply wonderful!
The scones are generously sized (they can usually be cut twice to give three slices per scone) and taste delicious. You get two of these. They are served with a pot each of jam and cream (which is to die for) and a pot of tea that makes around 3 cups. To add to this guilty pleasure hand made sugar lumps are provided to allow you to have your tea as sweet as you like. This cream tea will set you up for the day or replenish you after a busy morning. It goes perfectly with the location that provides plenty of options for walking and paddling.
Try it, you will not be disappointed!
Miss Waring July 2013
Truly spectacular!
With the setting being like something out of a story book and the Inn a beautifully old building you cannot go wrong. The staff are friendly and the Inn is dog friendly which is always a massive plus point.
Mr Morgan May 2012
A warm and inviting necessity!
If you find that, like myself and my better half, you have managed to abandon hope of reaching Tarr Steps directly and are unwilling to send the car through a ford/torrent of water to follow the absurd directions it demands of you, then you will have found yourselves on the moors at a signpost which reads: "Tarr Steps 1 1/2 miles". Simple enough...you would think. The first stage of the walk is a long muddy footpath decorated on the borders with Gorse and Heather and grazed by amicable exmoor ponies. Coming to a rather muddy gate you proceed through and down a hill where the signs cut off. Take a turn to the left and follow the erosion until you reach woodland more befitting Dartmoor and then down a muddy pebbled path and out at the Tarr Steps. It's a much more demanding walk than it sounds when taken over such a rugged landscape and I have to confess I was less concerned about seeing the Tarr Steps and photo opportunities as I was about getting inside the Tarr Farm Inn for a nice cup of tea. Speaking of which, the cream tea is a little on the pricey side but given that the scones are the size of a small plate and the clotted cream and jam provided could feed a family of 5 in sandwhiches for a week then you soon realise why the price tag is such. The inn itself is wonderfully rustic with typical woodburning stove, wooden beams and general romantic Devon atmosphere. Seating outdoors on the lawn provides a lovely view of the Tarr Steps (complete with scores of tourists like ourselves) or there is a side-garden of benches set beside a gorgeous, aged Oak. The steps themselves are a fascinating attraction and mandatory photographs of yourselves stood in their centre should not be neglected.
A lovely place to stop off, admire the surroundings and enjoy the food and drink.
Wimbleball Lake (3 ½ miles)
A vast stretch of water in Exmoor National Park where you can try lessons in sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. Permits for angling and fly fishing are available onsite from the Angling and Watersports Centre. For land lovers, there's a tea room, children's play area, bird watching and walks, including a nine-mile circular walk around the lake and the Woodland Discovery Trail.
Ms Kaminski October 2017
Lovely day out.....
Lovely walk, very peaceful it took my 14 year old son and I four hours to walk the 9 miles. Nice cafe by the lake which served amazingly yummy ice cream. Parking was reasonably priced £4.30 covered our walk and the toilets on site were clean too.
Mr Hanwell February 2016
Very long walk
We walked right round this lake (9 miles according to the website)it took us about four and a half hours and it was very muddy in places,but well worth the effort. Shame it was the time of year when the tea rooms were closed! Beautiful scenery.
April 2009
This well-managed lake has a good programme of events to get involved in, with numerous nature-themed walks, including a Dawn Chorus Walk and evening Bat Walk, as well as 'fish off' competitions!
The Royal Oak Inn (4 ½ miles)
With a history dating back 300 years, the Royal Oak free house can be found in the heart of Exmoor. Recently re-opened under new management, the menu is created using seasonal local produce and guests can enjoy their food in either of the inn’s two bars or restaurant. As well as a range of local beers, the inn also serves an extensive selection of whiskies and wine.
Mrs Faulkner October 2016
The Royal Oak Inn, Withypool
Very charming inn, good food and selection of local ales, it's larger inside than it looks from the outside. Children and dogs are very welcome and service to a high standard.
Highly recommended
June 2011
The food and service at The Royal Oak were both fantastic. Very welcoming (to children and dogs!) I would highly recommend it. In my daughter's words, the sticky toffee pudding was "the best I've had, ever!"
Lewis's Tearooms (3 ½ miles)
Untwee tea! This award-winning tearoom has rave reviews about the divinity of its delicious indulgence in homemade cakes and nibbles.
Mr Morgan May 2012
The best Tearoom in Devon
Having stayed in nearby Bridgetown my partner and I ventured quite frequently into Dulverton before or after trips further afield to stock up on supplies and we never once missed an opportunity to stop by Lewis's Tearooms. The premesis is clean and tidy, warm and inviting with a rustic feel owing in part to the piles of firewood beside the woodburners as well as the large, heavy wooden tables and chairs which grace the front of house. Staff there were always friendly and efficient, no matter how frustrating we must have been taking so long to decide on what to have! Plenty of choice teas but our favourite was by far the Tregothan Cornish Tea - earl grey. Possibly the most delicious tea we have ever drunk. The food menu is decent with a selection of meals to chose from and which cater to a broad demographic. We did eat there twice and each time the food was flawless and timely. Prices are very fair and at no point did I find myself wondering just why something cost as much as it did, so that is always a good sign by my books. All in all a wonderful attraction endorsed by Classic Cottages and one of the many things I am already missing, post-holiday.
Dunkery Beacon (4 ¾ miles)
Drive up onto Exmoor from Wheddon Cross and park at Dunkery Gate just as you get on National Trust land, then choose an open moorland walk to the top of Dunkery Beacon via a long or short route, where you will get a view over Porlock and across the Bristol Channel to Wales.
Mrs Walker November 2011
A very enjoyable walk and not to difficult. Well worth the effort, especially on a clear day. Pretty deserted in November but would imagine it gets quite busy in the summer months.
January 2009
Well worth a visit and not too far to walk (you can choose long or short route!). Outstanding views right across to Wales on a clear day.
November 2008
This is a good family friendly walk and due to this the summit can be quite busy on a summers day. Great views all around!
Simon Tregoning July 2008
Great views
A relatively easy climb for all the family is rewarded with far reaching views on a clear day.
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